Sky Sports activities’ Charles Dagnall displays on England’s emphatic 10-wicket victory over South Africa of their Ladies’s Cricket World Cup opener, how passage to the semi-finals might have already been secured, and why the Proteas can be disheartened by their surprising begin.
Watch England’s second recreation, towards Bangladesh, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion from 10am on Tuesday (10.30am first ball).
This can be supersonically early to say however keep on with me on this – victory over South Africa ought to imply that England has secured a semi-final spot.
There is no such thing as a motive why they need to lose towards Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka – and you’ll argue they’re a greater aspect than New Zealand.
So, in the event that they win these 4 different video games, you are going to end up within the semi-finals, which is absolutely the minimal.
Now, England can be examined towards spin by these sub-continental sides. We noticed how nicely Bangladesh did towards Pakistan with one seamer and 4 spinners, however have they received the batting depth to beat England’s bowlers?
These are video games England ought to win, and given the massive web run fee achieved with the South Africa victory, a semi-final spot ought to be theirs.
More durable exams forward for ‘efficient’ England
England weren’t sensational, however they have been very efficient.
They gained the toss and, understandably, wished to bowl first, however it was the best way they bowled. They have gamers there who have gotten quite a lot of expertise in sub-continent circumstances.
Charlotte Edwards would have drilled it into them that the place you have to bowl is on the stumps. That may sound like a extremely easy factor, however when you hold the stumps in play for as many deliveries as you possibly can and you are going to trigger issues, and England did that.
They did the fundamentals nicely and can be happy with how sharp they have been within the area and the way shortly they chased down their goal for victory.
Can England do the identical factor in the event that they’re underneath the pump somewhat bit? That’s going to be the massive query requested of this England aspect.
Performances towards India and Australia will outline England’s World Cup marketing campaign and the way they deal with knockout stress.
This win was nice, however they may must be ruthless towards weaker sides like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and even New Zealand.
England are one of many best-resourced groups on the earth. dwards mentioned semi-finals is the minimal, however it ought to be finals – and profitable trophies. It has been seven years. They don’t seem to be fairly there but, however that ought to be the aim.
Might England have been extra aggressive?
Nasser Hussain talked about on commentary that England may have pushed more durable throughout their run chase.
It is a theme we have seen earlier than with Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont’s partnership, which has the tendency to be conservative at instances.
With a powerful center order – Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Emma Lamb – they’ll afford to be extra aggressive.
It is too early to guage the Jones-Beaumont partnership. I might wish to know what their roles are, what plans they have been given, and the way they intend to play.
And the identical goes for Edwards – what’s her imaginative and prescient for Jones particularly, and the way does she execute it? That is the important thing query.
South Africa a shadow of themselves
South Africa have been poor and never the staff we all know, and they’re going to see it that manner – it is a staff stuffed with world-class gamers, in any case.
Maybe they have been frozen by expectations, having reached the final two T20 World Cup finals.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt’s tame dismissal set the wheels in movement. Linsey Smith’s dismissals weren’t magical by any means – simply sensible, easy bowling – however South Africa could not cope.
Leaving Annerie Dercksen out was stunning; she has X-factor. Nadine de Klerk is strong, however coming in at 5 down for 30 was a troublesome ask – England hadn’t even bowled Sophie Ecclestone or Charlie Dean but!
South Africa can have wished to start out sturdy and make a press release, however this wasn’t the South Africa we count on, and they are going to be disheartened.
With gamers like Marizanne Kapp, Wolvaardt, Masabata Klaas and Nonkululeko Mlaba, they are much higher than what they confirmed. These are champion cricketers. Right this moment was a shocker, however it ought to be a small blip. I count on a powerful comeback.
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