Amy Jones propels England to emphatic victory over the White Ferns
There is "without question" that the England women's cricket team are destined for the Women's World Cup final, remarked ex-cricketer Alex Hartley after Nat Sciver-Brunt's side thrashed New Zealand to wrap up the initial phase.
Their success saw England finish second in the table trailing defending champions Australia, and they are set to play South Africa in the first semi-final on Wednesday.
They are playing in Guwahati, the same venue where England thumped the Proteas in their tournament opener by bowling them out for a mere 69 runs.
"The England squad will carry tremendous self-belief into their match against South Africa," Alex Hartley, a World Cup winner, shared with BBC Test Match Special.
"This location benefits their bowling unit, the slow tracks and the way they employ their spinners.
"I just have a feeling, and there is complete conviction that England will overcome South Africa and advance to the championship game."
Overcoming Early Struggles
England have surmounted some uneven performances with the batting during the competition, particularly against weaker opponents Bangladesh and Pakistan, but have also displayed growth under pressure by edging past the Indian team in a close contest.
On the other hand, South Africa ended their group stage with a brutal defeat by Australia, suffering another batting failure to slow bowling as they were dismissed for 97, but Hartley also advised that England must not underestimate their rivals without caution.
"The England side are a superior side, but that is no guarantee that South Africa can't have their moment.
"We witnessed it in the Twenty20 World Cup when they eliminated Australia last year, so England must not enter the game assuming victory - but they are indeed the favored contender."
The England women's team have beaten South Africa in the semi-finals of the last two tournaments of the tournament, before their famous win over India at Lord's in 2017 and loss by Australia in 2022.
Bowling Strength
Their bowling unit has stood out since the start of the competition, particularly the spin bowling unit of Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean - though they will be anxiously monitoring on the health of the Ecclestone after she injured her shoulder against the Kiwi side.
The top and middle order presented more concerns but top-order players Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, who recorded their fourth partnership of over fifty runs at Visakhapatnam on Sunday, have started to find their rhythm at a very convenient time.
"There have been a lot of concerns about the opening pair at the start of the batting being able to play the incoming delivery," Alex Hartley continued.
"Tammy has changed her approach and is batting on off-stump now and she looks a lot more assured. She would have wanted to make a bigger contribution against New Zealand but that opening partnership is just beginning to click as we are approaching the nitty gritty.
"That is ideal - you strive to be producing your peak performance as you are entering the knockout phase."
Lineup Adjustments
The captain and Sciver-Brunt have been consistent all tournament but there are still question marks over the lower middle order, which the team management rejigged against New Zealand but they were unnecessary in the comfortable victory.
Emma Lamb, who struggled at batting at six with limited scoring in five innings, was left out for Danni Wyatt-Hodge while the young batter was listed to come in at the fifth spot in place of seven, trading positions with the underperforming Sophia Dunkley.
England should be equipped to modify their game as they go back to the slow, spin-friendly surface of Guwahati from the less responsive tracks of Indore and Vizag, while the other semi-finalists battle in the second semi in Navi Mumbai, which is additionally staging the title decider on the second of November.
