Big Picture: An even contest on the cards

After first semi-final of the Women's T20 World Cup between Australia and West Indies turned out to be a mismatch, the second has signs of being a far more even contest. Still, with home conditions and unbeaten record behind them, England go in as favourites against South Africa.

England dominated the group stage, winning all five games. Their batting has found contributions from everywhere, their bowlers have adapted to varying conditions, and they have rarely looked under pressure. Their top three have scored at a run rate of 8.8, the best in the tournament, mostly thanks to Danni Wyatt-Hodge's superb form. The return of Nat Sciver-Brunt after injury strengthens an already formidable line-up, although Sophia Dunkley ensured England scarcely felt her absence at No. 3. Having fallen short of the semi-finals in 2024, England now have what feels like their best opportunity to reclaim the T20 World Cup on home soil.

South Africa, meanwhile, arrive after winning four of their five group games, but their campaign has lacked the fluency England have displayed. There have been moments of individual brilliance but with a line-up that boasts of several big names like Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits and Nadine de Klerk, they haven't looked menacing.

If spin has been England's greatest strength with the ball, South Africa's pace attack has carried their campaign. Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka have been among the key wicket-takers, with their pace unit sharing 25 wickets between them - the highest in the tournament - while averaging 18.84, second only to Australia. Their battle against England's in-form top order could well shape the outcome of the semi-final.

South Africa are no strangers to the knockout stages anymore, having been finalists at the previous two T20 World Cups. In 2023, they knocked England out of the T20 World Cup in the semi-final and repeated the feat in the ODI World Cup last year. In both those games, it was Wolvaardt and Brits' opening effort that sent England packing, and it remains to be seen if they can outdo England's in-form opening pair this time to make another final.

Form Guide

England WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWL

In the spotlight: Wolvaardt and Ecclestone

Consistency is her middle name, but South Africa captain Wolvaardt hasn't hit top form in the tournament yet. She looked close against Netherlands, unfurling her trademark cover drives once she got going, only to fall for a 36-ball 45. Against Bangladesh, she bagged a first-ball duck. Those returns are at odds with the form she carried into the World Cup, having compiled three half-centuries and a hundred in South Africa's series win over India. As someone with a reputation for always turning up in knockouts, Wolvaardt will be keen on finding her touch.

Sophie Ecclestone has quietly gone about another outstanding ICC event. In 23 T20 World Cup innings, she has claimed 37 wickets while conceding just 4.7 runs an over, underlining her remarkable consistency on the biggest stage. While England's batters have grabbed headlines, Ecclestone has remained the constant with the ball, controlling the middle overs with her accuracy, changes of pace and ability to strike at crucial moments. South Africa's batting has often relied on one or two players carrying the load this tournament, and if Ecclestone can break those partnerships early, England will fancy their chances of keeping the scoring in check.

Team news: Sciver-Brunt is back

England captain Sciver-Brunt is fit to play in the semi-final after recovering from a calf injury. Though she chose not to reveal who makes way for her, Dunkley, who filled in at No. 3, is likely to miss out despite a good run.

England (probable): 1 Amy Jones (wk), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 4 Alice Capsey, 5 Heather Knight, 6 Freya Kemp, 7 Dani Gibson, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren Bell

South Africa have all players fit and available and are unlikely to make changes to their XI

South Africa (probable): 1 Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Annerie Dercksen, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Nadine de Klerk, 6 Chloe Tryon, 7 Dane van Niekerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Pitch and conditions: A chill day for the cricket

The two T20 World Cup matches at The Oval have been won by the chasing side. Pitches have been good for batting with England cruising to a target of 164 against New Zealand earlier in the tournament. The weather is expected to remain pleasant, with clear skies and temperatures around 17 degrees Celsius.

Stats and trivia: England hold the edge

• Will South Africa target Wyatt-Hodge with left-arm spin? Since the start of 2025, she has been dismissed seven times in 10 innings by left-arm spinners, averaging 8.85 and striking at 108.77. South Africa could be tempted to introduce Nonkululeko Mlaba or Chloe Tryon early on.

• England have dominated this rivalry, winning 23 of the 28 T20Is between the sides. They also lead 4-2 in T20 World Cup meetings, although South Africa have won the last two out of three, including the semi-final in 2023.

• South Africa have hit 18 sixes, the most in this edition of the T20 World Cup.

• Shabnim Ismail is one wicket away from reaching 50 in T20 World Cups.

Quotes

"I think the group of players that we have here are quite different to times before. I suppose there are people that have played in all of those games, but they're a world-class team and have made it to lots of the finals in previous World Cups. Not quite obviously got over the line, but they're a team that are extremely competitive. And ones that we've had a great battle between in the last few years."
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on history with South Africa at World Cups

"I think our bowling has been pretty good. I think different phases and different games, but I think having Kapp and Shabnim up early in the powerplay have been a big boost for us. I think we had a number of games where even if they did get off to a decent start, we were able to bring it back nicely. With the bat, we probably haven't been at 100%. I think all of our batters will admit they'd like to score a bit more runs, but I think it's a good thing and a pretty exciting thing because when they do come off, hopefully in the next game, it'll be a pretty good game."
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt on their campaign so far