England are as good as in the T20
World Cup semi-finals but Proteas cannot afford to relax in decisive Super 12 game
![‘Satisfied’ Eoin Morgan ready to face South Africa side desperate for win](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0a7417396dc110710cd85a3052e8f41453305f67/0_120_2104_1263/master/2104.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=b683f6298e680582b80a7598534d8238)
There is only one cast-iron, baked-in certainty about England’s group at the T20 World Cup as it goes into its final fixtures, and it is that at least one semi-final place will be decided on net run rate. The tiebreaker has been significant throughout the Super 12s –
England had it in mind as they bunted Dawid Malan down the order in their haste to conclude their opening fixture against West Indies – but the closer they come to a conclusion the more dominant it becomes.
England’s opponents in Saturday’s final fixture, South Africa, are currently third in the group, behind Australia on NRR, so their approach to the game will be dictated by what happens earlier in the day when the Australians face West Indies in Abu Dhabi. Should West Indies win the Proteas know that victory of any sort will be enough, but if Australia triumph then
South Africa will be forced to take the field not just trying to win, but trying to win fast.