It is time for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and the first game is an exciting one as the England women take on South Africa women in Guwahati. One of the key storylines for England is around Sophie Ecclestone. There remains a question mark over her fitness, and that could have a significant bearing on how this match unfolds. She is still England’s best bowler, arguably one of the finest in the world at her craft, and her presence or absence will go a long way in shaping the outcome. The surface in Guwahati is expected to favour pace-off and spin, which could suit her perfectly if she is fit to play.
England, to their credit, are well versed in the spin department. Charlie Dean has been consistent, Linsey Smith has done an excellent job with the new ball, and the likes of Alice Capsey add further variety. Altogether, they have four genuine spin options —a strength that could prove decisive against South Africa, especially on a surface expected to slow down and assist turn as the game progresses.
This is also the same venue where England had previously dismantled South Africa in their first meeting of the tournament. They bowled them out cheaply and cruised to victory in a very straightforward fashion, so there are positive memories attached to both the ground and the opposition. That earlier result will give England confidence, knowing they’ve already found success here and know what works against this particular South African side.
From a batting point of view, England’s performances have been steady rather than spectacular. They have been somewhat reliant on captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight to hold things together through the middle overs. The top order, with Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, has shown glimpses of form but hasn’t quite set the tone as dominantly as they would have liked. The key for England in this semi-final, especially on a pitch that’s expected to turn and slow down, is to be more proactive in the powerplay overs.
At times, England have managed to keep wickets intact during the powerplay, with Beaumont and Jones negotiating that early period carefully. However, the scoring rate has often been a bit pedestrian. Against a side like South Africa, who possess strong bowling options and can squeeze effectively through the middle overs, England will need to inject more urgency early on. They need to get ahead of the game during the powerplay — to make it easier later for the middle order to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving smoothly.
Sophie Dunkley’s form has been one of the disappointments of the tournament. England made a change against New Zealand in their last encounter before the semis, bringing in Danni Wyatt-Hodge for Emma Lamb. This was done to try and inject some extra spark — more runs and a bit of power in that late middle order. The hope is that this tweak can provide the balance they’ve been seeking, especially if the top order again fails to give them a strong platform.
In terms of bowling, England appear quite settled. Lauren Bell has been excellent throughout the tournament, offering both control and penetration. Nat Sciver-Brunt continues to provide that vital all-round balance, capable of contributing key overs and important runs. If Sophie Ecclestone is fit, it would be no surprise if England stuck to the same bowling combination — one that includes their four spin options. That blend of pace and spin has worked well for them, and on a pitch like this, it could be even more effective.
From South Africa’s point of view, there are players who can genuinely threaten England in this winner-takes-all semi-final. Laura Wolvaardt is in excellent form and remains one of the most dangerous batters in the women’s game. Marizanne Kapp, too, is a major figure — with both bat and ball, she brings experience and impact. Their left-arm spinner, Nonkululeko Mlaba, could also play a significant role. England’s batting line-up is almost entirely right handed, and that match-up —a quality left-arm spinner against a sequence of right-handers — might prove crucial. Mlaba’s ability to turn the ball away from the batters could pose real challenges on a surface offering assistance.
While England go into the game as favourites, South Africa have enough in their ranks to cause problems if they find early momentum. England’s task will be to start strong, especially with the bat, and to ensure their spin attack controls the middle overs the way it has throughout the competition.
For England, the expectations coming into the tournament were high — reaching the semi final was seen almost as a given. But the way the draw has unfolded, they have managed to avoid facing Australia at this stage, and that’s a significant relief. If they can go one step further and make the final, it will already represent a successful campaign — perhaps a little beyond what some within the camp thought might be realistic when the tournament began.
This match, then, represents both a test and an opportunity. A test of England’s depth without full certainty over Ecclestone’s fitness, a test of their top-order intent, and a test of their ability to adapt quickly on a turning pitch. But it’s also an opportunity — to reaffirm their status among the top teams, to translate their spin depth into control, and to carry the confidence of past success at this venue into another knockout performance.
If England can combine sharpness in the powerplay, composure through the middle, and accuracy with their varied bowling attack, they have every reason to believe they can move one step closer to the title. And should they reach the final, given the circumstances and challenges they’ve faced, it would mark an excellent achievement for Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side.
