Charlotte Edwards’ first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as England head coach has gone impressively so far.
Her team has carried their momentum from their warm-up wins over India and Australia into their opening tournament match, bundling South Africa out for just 69 and knocking off the runs without losing a wicket.
Heather Knight’s unbeaten 79 helped them survive a scare against Bangladesh, recovering from 78 for five to chase down 178, while Sri Lanka were also beaten before rain came to England’s rescue against Pakistan following a below-par batting effort.
A century from Knight set up a thrilling, four-run win over India and they looked set for another statement success when they reduced Australia to 68 for four defending 244, only for Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland to add an unbroken 180 to carry the defending champions to a six-wicket victory.
England bounced back with an eight-wicket win over New Zealand to enter the knockout stages on a high.
Key moment
It is difficult to look past the tone-setting opening match against South Africa. Having flattered to deceive in recent World Cups and been whitewashed in last winter’s Ashes, the pressure was on England to show they were realistic contenders.
They could not have asked for a better start than the one given to them by Linsey Smith, who dismissed Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp on her World Cup debut as the Proteas were rolled out for 69.
Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones needed just 14.1 overs to complete the chase and get England off to a flyer.
Top performers
Knight, back in the rank and file after losing the captaincy post-Ashes, missed the English summer due to injury but has excelled on her return, getting England over the line against Bangladesh before scoring a match-winning century against India.
Amy Jones has excelled in her new role as an opener, saving her best for the last group stage match against New Zealand when she cracked an unbeaten 86.
Questions have been asked about England’s middle order, however, with Sophia Dunkley struggling and Emma Lamb replaced by Danni Wyatt-Hodge against the White Ferns.
With the ball, spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith have shone with 12 wickets apiece. England have everything crossed Ecclestone will be fit for the semifinal after she bowled just four balls against New Zealand due to a shoulder injury.
History against semifinal opponent
England have the recent edge over the Proteas. Not only did they win this year’s group stage match so comfortably, they also beat South Africa at the same stage at the last ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – Wyatt-Hodge scoring 129 – and have prevailed in seven of the nine ODIs between the two nations since the turn of the decade.
Blizzard Vixen
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3P-Own
The sport of rugby traces its roots back to England, where it was founded at Rugby School in Warwickshire. The game’s creation is often attributed to a famous story in which William Webb Ellis picked up a soccer ball during a match and ran towards the opposition’s goal, laying the foundation for rugby as we know it today.