In the 2017 semi-finals, England beat South Africa by two wickets with just two balls to spare in Bristol.

The Proteas have the advantage that nine of the players who played in that knockout match are expected to be in the starting XI in Christchurch on Thursday.

The Proteas' coach, Hilton Moreeng, said they are wiser and more experienced now.

“As they say, in sport there are no two days that are alike. From what you've learnt you have to make sure that if you are given the opportunity again, you have to respond better.

Each and every player in the team is very motivated to play. They know what is coming and they know that the team we will be playing is the defending champions.

For us what has been working at the World Cup is that South Africa has been playing cricket and the Proteas are focused on what they can do best.”

The Proteas batter, Laura Wolvaardt, who has scored 433 runs at an average of 61.85 in seven games at the World Cup, has officially been installed as the best batter in women's one-day international cricket. Wolvaardt has scored fifty or more in five innings, with a highest score of 90.

Meanwhile, the first semi-final which will be played between Australia and the West Indies in Wellington gets underway at midnight.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport