Jones propels the England team to emphatic win over the White Ferns
It is "absolutely certain" that England are destined for the World Cup championship match, stated ex-cricketer Alex Hartley after Nat Sciver-Brunt's side overwhelmed New Zealand to finish the initial phase.
This victory enabled England secure second place in the table after title holders Australia, and they are scheduled to meet South Africa in the first semi-final on Wednesday.
They will compete in Guwahati, the exact ground where England thumped the Proteas in their initial game by skittling them for just 69.
"England will take so much confidence into their encounter against South Africa," Hartley, a World Cup winner, shared with the broadcast.
"The Guwahati venue benefits their bowling, the spin-friendly surfaces and the manner they utilize their spin bowlers.
"My instinct tells me, and there is complete conviction that England will overcome South Africa and progress to the championship game."
Addressing Inconsistencies
England have dealt with some uneven performances with the batting during the tournament, particularly against less-fancied teams Bangladesh and Pakistan, but have also demonstrated progress under pressure by edging past co-hosts India in a nail-biting finish.
In contrast, South Africa ended their preliminary phase with a comprehensive beating by Australia, experiencing another batting failure to slow bowling as they were dismissed for 97, but Hartley also cautioned that England ought not to disregard their competitors without caution.
"The England side are a stronger unit, but that is no guarantee that South Africa won't have their day.
"We have seen it in the Twenty20 World Cup when they knocked out Australia last year, so England must not enter the game assuming victory - but they remain the favored contender."
The England women's team have beaten South Africa in the final four of earlier versions of the tournament, before their famous win over India at Lord's in 2017 and setback by Australia in 2022.
Spin Dominance
Their bowling unit has stood out since the outset of the tournament, particularly the three spinners of Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean - though they will be anxiously monitoring on the health of the first-mentioned after she damaged her upper arm against the White Ferns.
The batting line-up raised more questions but top-order players Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, who added their fourth partnership of more than fifty at Visakhapatnam on Sunday, have started to find their rhythm at a opportune time.
"Many have raised a lot of concerns about the opening pair at the start of the batting being able to handle the in-swinging ball," Hartley added.
"Beaumont has made a shift and is positioning herself on off-stump now and she appears a lot more at ease. She would have wanted to make a bigger contribution against New Zealand but that first-wicket stand is just beginning to click as we are entering the nitty gritty.
"That's what you want - you want to be playing your best cricket as you are getting into the knockout phase."
Batting Depth
Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt have been fluent in every match but there are still question marks over the lower middle order, which coach Charlotte Edwards adjusted against New Zealand but they were not required in the comprehensive success.
The all-rounder, who struggled at the sixth position with 36 runs in several games, was omitted for her replacement while the young batter was slotted to come in at five instead of the seventh position, exchanging places with the out of form Sophia Dunkley.
The squad must be prepared to adjust as they revisit the spin-conducive pitch of Guwahati from the flatter pitches of Indore and Vizag, while the other semi-finalists battle in the other semi-final in Navi Mumbai, which is also the venue for the final on 2 November.
