'It's a mental game': Underdog Proteas hope to break semi-final hoodoo against England

Proteas opener Laura Wolvaardt says it will come down to the mental strength of the Women's T20 World Cup hosts ahead of their semi-final against England at Newlands on Friday.

South Africa sealed a 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday to finish second behind defending champions Australia in Group A, who take on India in their semi-final on Thursday.

Wolvaardt smashed a career-best unbeaten 66 off 54 balls as the Proteas chased down Bangladesh's 114 in Cape Town.

READ | Wolvaardt displays mental toughness to steer Proteas into semi-finals: 'Glad I stuck through it'

The Proteas women became the first South African side - male or female - to reach a home World Cup semi-final.

It means South Africa's semi-final date with destiny is against Group B winners and long-time rivals England.

Hours before the Proteas' final Group A game against the Tigers, England maintained their unbeaten streak in the tournament as they scored 213 against Pakistan at Newlands, rumbling their opponents by 114 runs.

Incidentally, 114 was the same run tally the initially nervy Proteas openers chased down with 2.1 overs to spare in their fixture against Bangladesh.

The Proteas women head into the semi-final as underdogs, despite great South African expectations and a hearty Newlands crowd anticipated on Friday.

"They're a quality side. We've lost many semi-finals against them, which is not ideal. They play a very explosive, very attacking brand of cricket," Wolvaardt told reporters on Tuesday.

"Tomorrow, we're just going to have to have some good discussions about how we can use that against them. And if anything, it gives us a bit more freedom to know that we are going to have to put a lot of runs on the board early on and get off to better starts