South Africa aiming to unlock batting potential in knockouts

It hasn’t been a smooth sailing for South Africa but the 2024 finalists have delivered in clutch moments to make it to the knockouts of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt knows the team will have to fire on all cylinders when they take on the hosts England in the second semi-final at The Oval on Thursday.

While South Africa qualified as the second-placed team from Group A, England have been one of the most dominant sides in the competition, having won all five of their matches.

“Our bowling has been pretty good. We’ve been able to strike early in the PowerPlay and then I think in the middle in death overs, we've been able to sort of really keep teams quiet,” Wolvaardt said on Wednesday, ahead of the final four clash.

“With the bat we probably haven't been 100%. All of our batters will admit they they'd like to score a bit more runs but I think it's a good thing because when they do come off, hopefully in the next game, it'll be a pretty good game.”

During the group stage, South Africa’s batting fell apart in their opening game against Australia and looked shaky against Pakistan, even though the Proteas survived a low-scoring thriller.

However, in the heavyweight clash against India, Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp absorbed all the pressure to steer the team to a six-wicket win.

With the knockouts approaching, Wolvaardt is hoping South Africa can unlock their batting potential.

“A big focus of ours is that power game,” the star opener said. “We have a lot of young talent that is just really good at it. Maybe we need to stack them throughout the innings so that we're able to, to keep going in all the different phases.”

South Africa are also banking on their recent record against England as they face-off on Thursday. They clashed against England in the 2025 ODI World Cup semi-finals and the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2023, and emerged winners on both occasions.

“We've been able to beat England twice in knockout phases in World Cups, so it's not foreign territory for us,” Wolvaardt said.

“We can beat anyone on the day. So, trying to think back to those tournaments, what we did well in those semi-finals, what sort of mindset we were in. But I think this is a team that really is able to rise to the big occasions, so, hopefully everyone's at their best tomorrow.”

As they take on the hosts in the second semi-final, South Africa are chasing their third straight final at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Proteas’ ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Shabnim Ismail (DP World Lions), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Proteas Fixtures and Results - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (All times SAST)

Saturday, 13 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v Australia (Aus won by 65 runs)

Wednesday, 17 June at 7.30pm - Edgbaston, Birmingham

South Africa v Pakistan (SA won by two wickets)

Sunday, 21 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v India (SA won by six wickets)

Thursday, 25 June at 7.30pm - Bristol County Ground, Bristol

South Africa v Netherlands (SA won by 88 runs)

Sunday, 28 June at 11.30am - Lord’s, London

South Africa v Bangladesh (SA won by four wickets)

Semi-final

Thursday, 2 July at 7.30pm - The Oval, London

South Africa v England