Proteas Women ready for World Cup semi-final

THERE was a time not too long ago that the Proteas Women's team reaching a major ICC tournament semifinal was an achievement.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Now it’s almost expected, with today's playoff in Guwahati being the Proteas' third consecutive ODI World Cup semifinal appearance against the selfsame England. Laura Wolvaardt's side have also advanced past the semifinals in successive T20 World Cups.

One of those T20 semifinal victories was achieved over England in Cape Town two years ago, which helped exact revenge for the defeats in the longer ODI format in Bristol (2017) and Christchurch (2022).

"We've had some success in ICC tournaments, so yeah I’m looking forward to the challenge," Wolvaardt said. "Hopefully we're able to learn from those semifinal victories that we've got and maybe stay a bit calmer under pressure."

The Proteas arrived at this World Cup in India and Sri Lanka determined to play a brand of cricket, one with an element of risk but which has been unfettered by doubt or hesitancy.

It propelled them to an extraordinary five-match winning streak in the group stages, which was, however, bookended with heavy defeats to England and defending champions Australia.

To compound matters, the England capitulation - bowled out for a record low 69 - occurred here in the north east of India.