T20 World Cup: Ismail Return, 2024 Semi Reruns, Rain Threat

Old Trafford will also host the second game of the day, the blockbuster between Australia and South Africa, starting at 1.30pm GMT. Australia might be the top-ranked team (no surprises there). Still, South Africa will remember better than anyone how they had registered a clinical win against Australia in the semi-final of the 2024 event. This will be Australia Women's first white-ball international at Old Trafford, and their first there since the 1976 Test. Manchester saw a fair bit of rain in the lead up to Saturday which forced all teams but South Africa to train indoors on Friday. The forecast for Saturday also shows rain, but more before 10am than after although it will remain overcast with some wind and the temperatures well under 20 degrees Celsius. That should allow the games to be completed, even if truncated. The pitch wore a green tinge as it may not have seen much of the sun this week. Southampton was dry in comparison on Friday, after several days of very wet weather in the week. Saturday evening should be sunny with highs of 23 degrees, which should make for a lovely evening of cricket. Both teams probable XI : Phoebe Litchfield missed Australia's two recent warm-up games with a quad issue. But she trained "really well" according to captain Molineux on Friday and should be good to go for their opener. Australia Women Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland/Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (c), Georgia Wareham/Alana King/Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt South Africa Women Laura Wolvaardt (c), Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits/Dane van Niekerk, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Kayla Reyneke/Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, Nonkululeko Mlaba For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp returned to action in the warm-ups after being out of action for three months with an illness. Shabnim Ismail could easily make the XI after unretiring from internationals, but it may not be as straightforward for Dane van Niekerk.