South Africa vs England: Proteas' women look to close the gap on England

England have never lost a women’s Twenty20 international against South Africa. Played 12, won 11, no result one, reads the log. Abundant reason, then, for confidence ahead of the series of three matches between the sides which begins in Paarl.

But hold hard there. Until last week, England had prevailed in 16 successive one-day internationals going back 12 years. Although they came back to win 2-1, their defeat in the second match served as a marker. Not only are these two teams closer than they have been for years but the gap between most, if not all, countries is closing.

This is obviously a good thing for the health of the women’s game, which is making vast strides quickly. England are still more feasible candidates to win the Women’s World Twenty20, which is being run alongside the men’s event in India next month, having won the inaugural competition in 2009 and been losing finalists in the last two.

The squad which England named should perform well enough in India, though they first have to emerge from a group which contains dangerous opponents, especially in India and West Indies. A slight risk has been taken with the nomination of the fast bowler, Katherine Brunt. She returned early from South Africa after suffering a back spasm.

Of those on the tour, only the Yorkshire batter Lauren Winfield will not go to the World Twenty20. Though her scores in the one-day series of 10, 1 and 11 made her omission likely it is still a blow so close to the event. Brunt’s injury has allowed the late selection of Natasha Farrant, who replaced her in South Africa.

Farrant seized the opportunity gratefully and immediately impressed the new coach, Mark Robinson. He said: “It will be a great experience for all of the players selected – both those who have had this opportunity before and for the likes of Tash Farrant, selected for an ICC global event for the first time.

“Tash impressed during England women’s training camp to Sri Lanka before Christmas and adds a different dimension to the bowling attack as a left-arm seamer.”

England will again be led by Charlotte Edwards, their captain in all four previous World Twenty20 tournaments. The match will be her 86th at the helm and although she did not have a prolific one-day series against South Africa, she was still the side’s second leading run scorer. The only person with more runs was Heather Knight, her likely eventual successor.

South Africa rightly assume that their long-awaited ODI victory gives them a chance. Their captain, Mignon du Preez, said: “I think we still have a lot of momentum with us. Going from having not beaten England in almost a decade and doing so in the ODIs was something special. We’ll take a lot from that and it will help us going into the T20s. Anything can happen in a T20 series. The odds are almost at the same level and we’re very excited.”

The matches on Friday and Sunday will be played before the men’s games, which is increasingly the way it should be done in all T20.