NEW DELHI: South Africa will be eager to overcome their struggles against spin and deliver a complete performance when they take on four-time champions England in the first semifinal of the ICC Women's World Cup in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Their journey to the knockouts has been anything but smooth. The Proteas endured two heavy defeats in the league stage, both times faltering against spin.

After the early setback of being bowled out for just 69 in their opening match, they showed commendable resilience to secure hard-fought wins over New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

However, familiar woes returned in their final league encounter, as Australia's spinners once again exposed their weakness, skittling them for just 97 in 24 overs.

The South African batters struggled to read the line and were deceived by drift against England, and their woes deepened when Alana King's leg-spin left them completely flummoxed in the clash with Australia.

England will aim to capitalise on that vulnerability once again, banking not only on their all-round depth but also on their potent spin trio - Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, and Charlie Dean - to keep the South African lineup in check.

Seamer Lauren Bell will be tasked with creating early pressure, while Alice Capsey, in fine bowling rhythm with five wickets to her name, will look to maintain her impact through the middle overs.

For South Africa, captain Laura Wolvaardt has led from the front with 301 runs in seven matches at an average of 50.16, including three half-centuries. But except for Wolvaardt, few South African batters have shown consistent form.

Tazmin Brits, who struck 101 against India in Indore, has since managed three ducks, a 55 and a 6, underlining her shaky form. She had scored three consecutive centuries before the World Cup, and South Africa will hope she can provide a solid start on the big day.

Sune Luus (157 runs) and Marizanne Kapp (162) have also been inconsistent, contributing to the team’s batting woes. Some of their shot selection against Australia were questionable, and they will need to be spot on with their execution against England.

England, on the other hand, will head into the high-pressure clash with plenty of confidence, having hammered South Africa by 10 wickets in their tournament opener at the same venue.

For England, it has been a strong comeback since their home series loss to India. Under coach Charlotte Edwards, the team has shown plenty of character. They too lost to Australia in the league phase but still finished second behind their arch-rivals with 11 points.

England have looked a formidable unit for most parts of the tournament, but their campaign has not been without stumbles. Batting collapses and nervy finishes have occasionally exposed their soft underbelly in pressure situations.

Their close shave against Bangladesh and a rain-hit clash against Pakistan underlined those frailties. While they scraped through with a four-wicket win over Bangladesh, Pakistan pacer Fatima Sana laid bare their vulnerability to inswingers with a four-wicket haul that reduced them to 133 for nine.

Captain Heather Knight (288) and wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones (220) have been the most dependable in the middle order, but opener Tammy Beaumont’s (210) inconsistency has hurt their starts.

All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt remains the heartbeat of the side, though her returns have fluctuated, a century against Sri Lanka followed by single-digit scores against Pakistan and Australia.

Among the others, middle-order batters Emma Lamb and Sophia Dunkley are yet to produce innings of substance, something England will be desperate to correct in the semifinal.

South Africa, meanwhile, boast a mixed bowling attack, but if the wicket assists spin, Nonkululeko Mlaba -- with 11 wickets in the tournament -- will be crucial. They will also depend heavily on Kapp to maintain tight lines and lengths with the new ball.

The teams will also have their eyes on the sky as showers are expected in Guwahati on the day of the first semi-final. Although there is a reserve day, but if there is no result, the team that finished higher on the points table will progress into the final.

The Teams (From):

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon.

Match starts at 3pm IST.

(With PTI Inputs)