Women's World Cup | England and South Africa look to cement contender status in Guwahati opener
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Last non-Australia ODI World Cup Winners England would be hoping to replicate their 2017 success as they take to the field in India under Natalie Sciver-Brunt's tutelage. They face last edition's runners-up South Africa in the curtain raiser, at Baraspara Stadium in Guwahati on October 3.
South Africa head into the World Cup high on confidence with victories in their two previous bilateral endeavours against Pakistan and West Indies respectively. Zooming out, they have won 17 and lost 19 ODIs since the last World Cup where they made the semi-final.
SA: L W W W W
ENG: L W L W W
A comprehensive win in Kimberley last year was South Africa's only success in their last seven ODIs against England, keeping in line with a starkly one-sided head-to-head record. However, the Proteas will take confidence from the fact that two of their 10 wins have come in World Cups (2000 and 2022), even though they suffered defeat in both the previous editions held in India.
SA 10 - 35 ENG
In a slightly rain-affected opener between India and Sri Lanka, Baraspara Stadium in Guwahati proved to be a challenging deck to settle in but offered plenty of room to capitalize for the ones that did. There was help for the spinners with slightly early movement for pacers, making it the perfect set-up for a balanced encounter between abt and ball. However, batting did seem to become easier under lights, making it a tempting option to bowl first.
All that may not matter though given Guwahati is currently under threat of a thunderstorm, with significant rain preceded before and at the start of the encounter. Accuweather suggests though that the showers will subside enough to allow a game thereafter even if under heavy clouds, with the temperature expected to hover in the late 20s degrees celsius.
South Africa head into the World Cup with a more or less settled XI under Laura Wolvdaart, apart from a tricky choice for wicket-keeper between Sinalo Jafta and Karabo Meso.
England will be hard-pressed to choose between Alice Capsey and Emma Lamb in the middle-order after the latter's half-centuries in both warm-up games. Sarah Glenn would be hoping to sneak her way in as well after a fifer against Australia a couple of days ago, which would mean breaking apart the established spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Linsey Smith.
South Africa Probable XI: Laura Wolvdaart (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (wk), Nonkululeke Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka
England Probable XI: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
The Women's World Cup is being streamed digitally on the Jio Hotstar app and website in India, with a live telecast on the Star Sports Network.
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