England vs South Africa: LIVE Women’s T20 World Cup result and reaction after Heather Knight’s side secure victory

England will look to build on an encouraging start to the Women’s T20 World Cup as they face a tricky test against South Africa.

The spinners were, predictably, to the fore in England’s opener against Bangladesh, with Linsey Smith excelling.

South Africa should provide a sterner test of Heather Knight’s side having beaten them at the semi-final stage on home soil at the last edition of this tournament.

A classy half-century from Laura Wolvaardt carried South Africa to a ten-wicket victory over the West Indies in their first game in the United Arab Emirates.

Wolvaardt said at the toss: “We are batting first because the pitch looks slow and we are hoping to get a total and then defend it.

“It was nice to start with a win in our first group game but this is a big game because the chance to go 2-0 in the competition gets us in a good position.

“What would we like to improve? We were pretty good in our first game without being perfect in all areas so it’s about trying to improve them.”

South Africa win the toss and choose to bat first as Laura Wolvaardt calls tails and makes the right decision.

This could be a poor toss to lose for Heather Knight, three out of four matches at this tournament have been won by the side batting first.

Skipper Heather Knight has warned that England Women’s T20 World Cup campaign may not always be “sexy” as they wrestle with the conditions in the United Arab Emirates.

Knight’s side launched their bid for glory with a 21-run Group B victory over Bangladesh on a tricky pitch in Sharjah, where the slow outfield compounded the problems for batters.

England were restricted to 118 for seven having won the toss and elected to bat, but while Knight admitted there was room for improvement, she was happy with that total at the halfway stage.

She told Sky Sports: “It wasn’t far off par but I think if we push up to about 135, 140, that’s going to be a really good score if we get on that type of wicket again.

Cape Town will be on the minds of both teams when England take on South Africa at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – a year on from a dramatic semi-final.

On home soil last year, the Proteas women reached the final of the tournament for the very first time thanks to a six-run win over England at Newlands.

Now the teams meet again, this time in a Group B encounter, with both one win from one in the United Arab Emirates.

A second success would be a giant step towards qualification for the final four, and England are only too aware of how close it was last February.

Linsey Smith starred with the ball as England launched their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 21-run victory over Bangladesh.

Smith turned in figures of two for 11 from her four overs and played the significant role in the dangerous Nigar Sultana Joty’s run out as Heather Knight’s side limited the Bangladeshis to 97 for seven in the Group B showdown under the lights in Sharjah.

She and Charlie Dean each claimed two wickets to help successfully defend a target of 119 after Danni Wyatt-Hodge had scored 41 in a modest total of 118 for seven on a tricky pitch.

England won the toss and opted to bat, and opener Maia Bouchier enjoyed a reprieve when she was dropped by Rabeya Khan at point off the bowling of Marufa Akter on 16.

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live build up and coverage of England’s second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup against South Africa in Sharjah.

Both sides won their opening match, and in the group not containing India and Australia, South Africa are likely to be England’s toughest test.