Two steps from a world semi
● SA’s two steps to a first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal since 2014 begin today with a set of Sydney showdowns, the first of which is against Pakistan.
They then meet the West Indies on Tuesday at the Showgrounds Stadium.
Having flown under the radar with their preparations in New Zealand, Hilton Moreeng’s side got their tournament show on the road with their first victory over England.
Lizelle Lee’s explosive maiden T20 century and Sune Luus’s 61 allowed SA to ease past Thailand in Canberra on Friday.
That’s two wins under their belt, but the road to the play-offs at the Showground Stadium isn’t going to be an easy one.
After her hundred, Lee admitted they needed to field better.
They spilled three reasonably catchable chances, something they can ill afford against Pakistan and the West Indies with a play-off place at stake.
The equation is straightforward for SA. If they beat Pakistan and the West Indies; they will top the group and face Australia or New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday.
It’s a massive carrot for them and one that they deserve considering the strides they have made as a 50-over group.
By their own admission, they haven’t quite transferred their 50-over form to the shortest format.
When they lost to New Zealand 3-1 in the five-match T20 series, the portents were not that good after dominating the 50-over session of that tour. Those cobwebs have been comprehensively cleared now and with the beating of England, they showed they have ability to pace a game and constrict good sides.
Unlike England, Pakistan and the West Indies are inconsistency personified. Pakistan, who put together a neat performance to dispatch an unexpectedly underwhelming West Indian side, were thoroughly beaten by England on Friday.
England and the West Indies meet in the later game today and should SA have beaten Pakistan by then, England will have the simple task of securing their play-off spot by beating the West Indies.
Should they do that, they will also seal SA’s spot, thereby rendering the Tuesday games as an academic exercise from a semifinal perspective.
However, SA will know better than to be complacent with a grand stage like the playoffs beckoning.
Getting to the semifinals will be a huge achievement, but they should not look too far ahead.