🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: Group B - Match 20: EngW vs WIW 🏏 - Page 22

These sides, uncannily, find themselves on collision courses at Women's T20 World Cups. And 2024 is no different. Both of their paths must go through the other at Sharjah, where roadblocks for one could be launchpads for the other. And even though the current scenario qualifies as more of conjunction than disjunction, only one will leave having ticked their immediate check-list and having taken a step closer to where they want to be.

Basseterre, Cape Town, Gros Islet, Mirpur, Perth and now Sharjah - the sixth instalment in a Women's T20 World Cup rivalry that seems to almost always deliver high-stakes action. Back in Mirpur in 2014, England denied South Africa a piece of history, which South Africa then snatched back at Cape Town in 2023.

In between, there was the skirmish of St Lucia, England trumping South Africa and booking their place in the semi-final, directly at the Proteas' expense; Perth, meanwhile, will be remembered for South Africa stunning England and finishing above them in the round-robin phase, with England ultimately exiting (after a washed-out semi against India) because of…a lower group standing.

So, you kind of get the vibe, right?

England hold a 19-4 advantage over South Africa in this format. That said, South Africa have won the last two meetings between the pair at the Women's T20 World Cup. Which way will this contest swing tonight?

Raji: "Eng has a score to settle after last year's semi-final. They'll face a tough fight, but a win is a win, no matter how it looks. I believe Eng has what it takes to win the trophy."

South Africa coasted to a 10-wicket win in their opening fixture, whereas England had to graft a little harder against Bangladesh. What to expect from tonight then?

Three out of four matches at Sharjah this T20 World Cup have been won by the side batting first. Both night matches, incidentally, have ended up in favour of the team defending a total. No-brainer for the captain winning the toss then?

It's time for the toss. Knight and Wolvaardt are out in the middle. Knight gives the coin a flick. Wolvaardt calls tails and tails it is. South Africa will bat first. She says the pitch looks slower and they want a total on the board they can defend. Admits this is a massive game and they can go 2-0 with a win. Adds they were pretty good in the first game without being perfect so tonight is about improving on those little things.

England XI: Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Danielle Gibson, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Linsey Smith

South Africa XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinolo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

Heather Knight - We would have batted first, but we'll have to set the tone with the ball first. The conditions have been tricky to bat, we've discussions on how to play our brand of cricket. We did a lot right the other night, very different conditions to what we faced when we played them last time, they're a quality team. Same team for us as well

Laura Wolvaardt - We'll bat first. Looks a bit slower, hopefully, we'll get a good total on the board and defend it later. A massive game, a win will help us get 2-0 up in the group, we're yet to play the perfect game, small improvements can be done in all fronts. Same team

Pitch Report: Pitch No.4 will be used tonight. The wind is slightly greater than usual. Slightly skewed square boundaries - 59m to one side, 63m to the other. 73m hit straight down the ground. 70% wickets have been taken by spin at this venue and Lisa Sthalekar uses Beth Mooney's example, citing the batters' need to move their feet, going back and forth and negotiating the spin threat. There are a couple of bare patches, which might exhibit variable bounce. 135 could be a par score, perhaps inching towards 140, says Sthalekar.