England are set to lock horns with South Africa in the highly anticipated Semi Final 1 of the Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, on Wednesday, October 29.
England will face South Africa in the 1st semifinal of Women’s World Cup 2025
England have displayed an impressively dominant brand of cricket throughout the marquee quadrennial event, showcasing why they are strong contenders for the title. The team finished a respectable second on the points table, demonstrating their consistency by winning five out of their seven league games.
The Nat Sciver-Brunt-led team will look to bring out their A-game to progress to the finals, where a coveted spot awaits at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, November 2. Their campaign saw them accumulate 11 points in the league stage, which included sharing points with Pakistan after a washout. The winner of this knockout match will face either Australia or India, who are scheduled to meet in their own knockout game on Thursday, completing the World Cup final lineup.
Women’s World Cup 2025: Update on Sophie Ecclestone’s availability for the semifinal game
The England camp faces a major pre-match assessment concerning the fitness of superstar left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who sustained a minor injury. The pivotal bowler, who has been instrumental in England’s success, underwent an MRI scan which “revealed a minor injury to the joint next to her collar bone,” according to a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board as per Cricbuzz. The ECB further stated, “She will continue to be assessed ahead of Wednesday’s ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa.”
Despite this setback, the England team remains optimistic that she will be fit in time and feature in the clash, highlighting her irreplaceable value. Ecclestone has indeed played a pivotal role in England’s journey to the semi-finals, having picked up a remarkable 12 wickets in just six matches at an exceptional economy rate of 3.98. This places her as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, a spot she shares with teammate Linsey Smith, underscoring her importance to the team’s potent bowling attack.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
