England Women face South Africa Women at The Oval on Thursday evening in the second semi‑final of the Women's T20 World Cup.
Nat Sciver-Brunt's side cruised into the last four with a flawless record of five wins from five in Group B, albeit without their injured skipper for the last three matches.
The all-rounder is set to return from a calf problem to lead her side, with the winners to face Australia in the showpiece final at Lord's on Sunday.
England are coming off a historic nine-wicket win over New Zealand in which they completed the joint‑highest successful chase in Women's T20 World Cup history.
South Africa, meanwhile, claimed second spot in Group A with four wins after their opening defeat to the Baggy Green.
Tazmin Brits has hammered 174 runs across her five innings, with Marianne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt anchoring key chases, while each member of the bowling attack have all chipped in with match-winning displays
With England unbeaten and the Proteas battle‑hardened, this semi‑final could be a tense and dramatic affair.
England Women v South Africa Women Tips Summary
Best Bet - Total match runs - Over 314.5 @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Match handicap - England -5.5 wkts/-17.5 runs @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Danni Wyatt-Hodge 30+ runs, Danni Wyatt-Hodge top England batter & Sophie Ecclestone 2+ wickets @ 17/1
England Women v South Africa Women Prediction
Best Bet: Total match runs - Over 314.5 @ 5/6
Four of the six Women's T20Is to have been played at The Oval produced more than 320 runs in total with England having chased down 164 with ease against New Zealand there only last week.
The wicket is usually good for batting and, although the West Indies were skittled for a low score in the first semi-final at the South London venue, Australia rattled off the target at almost 10 runs per over.
England's batting has been consistently brilliant in the tournament and they should post another high total if they get first use of the pitch.
Danni Wyatt‑Hodge and Alice Capsey are striking above 130, while Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson have provided late‑innings acceleration.
South Africa's batting strike rate sits at a healthy 7.4 runs per over and they have shown they can chase under pressure, which suggests they can put more than 150 on the board.
With two strong top orders, boundary hitters and a fast Oval outfield, this semi‑final should clear 314.5 total runs.
Alternative Bet: Match handicap - England -5.5 wkts/-17.5 runs @ 10/11
England have looked the most complete team in the tournament so far with a deeper batting unit than most and a varied bowling attack capable of striking in all phases of the game.
Their fielding, the subject of some fierce criticism in the past, is also much improved.
England's collective excellence has seen them record some wide-margin wins in the group stages, beating Sri Lanka by 87 runs, both Scotland and West Indies by 38 runs and thrashing New Zealand by nine wickets last time out.
The tournament hosts have an excellent record at The Oval, where they have won all five T20Is played.
They would have covered the match handicap in three of those five wins and should be able to wrap up a comfortable victory over a South Africa side that is heavily reliant on a couple of key players.
England Women v South Africa Women Bet Builder
Danni Wyatt-Hodge 30+ runs
Danni Wyatt-Hodge top England batter
Sophie Ecclestone 2+ wickets
Pays 17/1
Wyatt‑Hodge's numbers at this tournament are extraordinary.
Her current tally of 282 runs is the most ever in a single Women's T20 World Cup and with three 50+ scores in five innings, she remains England's most in-form batter.
Not only is she taken to make 30+ runs in this semi-final, but is also backed to be top team batter for the tournament hosts.
Left-arm spinner Ecclestone has been outstanding, taking eight wickets at an average under 15, and she can pick up a couple more at The Oval, where she has claimed two multi-wicket hauls in four previous T20Is.
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Key Match Stats
England have won eight of the last nine T20Is against South Africa
England have won all five of their T20Is at The Oval
Danni Wyatt‑Hodge has scored 282 runs, the most in any Women's T20 World Cup edition
England's run rate of 9.36 rpo is their highest ever in any international tournament
South Africa's Tazmin Brits has scored 174 runs at a strike rate of 134.88
Tactics, Form & Team News
England have managed pretty well without injured skipper Sciver-Brunt for the past three games, but she is now set to step back in at The Oval.
Charlie Dean has captained the team well in her absence, while Sophia Dunkley looks like the player making way for the return of Sciver-Brunt.
Expected England XI: 1 Amy Jones (wk), 2 Danni Wyatt‑Hodge, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), 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 are set to be unchanged again after stumbling upon the right combination during the group stage.
Brits is now their highest run-scorer at this tournament, but they would love for captain Laura Wolvaardt to get into her stride at the top of the order too.
Expected South Africa XI: 1 Laura Wolvaardt (c), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Annerie Dercksen, 4 Dane van Niekerk, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Nadine de Klerk, 7 Chloe Tryon, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Read more cricket betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
