Confident England head into World Cup semi-final with five straight wins

England finished the group stage with five wins from five after beating New Zealand, and Charlotte Edwards said she had "never been more confident" going into a World Cup semi-final. The victory secured top spot in Group Two, lifted England into the last four and extended a run that now asks a bigger question than momentum alone: whether this is England's most complete women's side yet.

The case is built on variety. England passed 200 against Sri Lanka and Scotland, posted 186-7 on a tricky Lord's surface against West Indies, then chased 164 against New Zealand with 2.4 overs to spare. Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up that finish with an unbeaten 89, a performance that underlined how England can now win through heavy scoring, control in the field and chase pressure rather than one fixed formula. Edwards said it was "a confident group", and the figures support that view.

That matters because England have been here before. They have reached five of the past six World Cup semi-finals across formats, yet the last global title remained the 2017 50-over triumph at Lord's. England's familiarity with the knockout stage has not always translated into silverware, which is why this unbeaten run feels different: the batting has been spread across conditions, the bowling has held up on a good pitch, and different players have stepped in at different times.

Edwards carries her own history into the campaign. She captained England to the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup title, when the tournament was last staged in England, and returned as head coach in April 2025 after spells with Southern Vipers, Southern Brave, Sydney Sixers and Mumbai Indians. That blend of proven tournament pedigree and franchise-hardened experience has given England a clearer identity, while the return of the Women's T20 World Cup to England for the first time since 2009 adds another layer to the setting.

England will not know their semi-final opponent until Group One finishes on Sunday, but India and South Africa look the most likely. India are the ODI world champions; South Africa have reached every World Cup final for the past three years. The timing is still unsettled too, with England set for Tuesday at 14:30 BST if India qualify for that slot, or Thursday at 18:30 BST if anyone else finishes second. The win over New Zealand also ensured England avoided Australia, the six-time T20 champions, and left Edwards' side with a cleaner route to the final they have targeted from the start, at Lord's.