England v South Africa – Women's Cricket World Cup Starts
Silence please! The talking is over, at least for the moment, and England’s World Cup is about to begin. On the downside, they begin against a formidable opponent with South Africa as their first rival. The good news is, they kick off with a demanding fixture opposing the Proteas. Victory today could provide immediate impetus for England and justify the cautious confidence of their pre-tournament chatter.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
An excellent win versus the Aussies during their final preparatory match has heightened their belief, although the standout displays from Alice Capsey (remaining unbeaten on 88) and Sarah Glenn (taking 5 wickets for 32 runs) caused a small team-selection puzzle for Charlotte Edwards.
Edwards is a serial winner, thus there is no risk that England will aim low. However, looking broadly they are in the slightly unusual position of having a very clear par for the tournament.
Tournament Expectations
Failure to reach the semi-finals would be a minor shocker, even allowing for the improvement among the traditional also-rans. Reaching the final before Australia or India, the two clear favourites to claim the title, would represent a major feat. And if England win it… it's best not to entertain that thought. It’s far too soon for those kinds of predictions.
This fixture commences at 10:30 AM British Summer Time.
