England aims to turn their fortunes around in the T20 World Cup as they face South Africa on Friday, following a demoralizing defeat to the Proteas seven months ago in the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai. In that match, England captain Jos Buttler's decision to field first under intense heat backfired, resulting in a massive total of 399 for South Africa and a historic 229-run loss for England.

England's performance in the T20 World Cup has been significantly better. They secured an impressive eight-wicket win over the West Indies in St. Lucia, chasing down a target of 181 with 15 balls to spare, which has bolstered their net run rate. A win against South Africa in the same venue would virtually secure their place in the semi-finals.

Several players from the October defeat are set to feature again, but notable additions like Phil Salt and Jofra Archer, who did not participate in the Mumbai game, have strengthened England's squad. Salt's blistering unbeaten 87 against the West Indies and Archer's impressive return to international cricket after a lengthy injury absence have been crucial.

Archer's bowling, particularly his economical 16th over against West Indies' Nicholas Pooran, demonstrated his impact. "Honestly, I didn't get to watch that one as I was heading back to the UK. I know it wasn't a great tournament for the boys, but we have put it past us," Archer commented, reflecting on the Mumbai defeat.

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a hundred in their victory in Mumbai, remains a significant threat. Klaasen acknowledges England's strength, stating, "But they're an extremely dangerous side. They've got a lot of match-winners so we need to be aware of that and play our big moments better than they do."

The clash against South Africa offers England a chance to redeem themselves and solidify their position in the T20 World Cup semi-finals. Both teams are poised for a tough battle, with England looking to capitalize on their recent form and South Africa aiming to replicate their past success.

By securing a win, England could leave behind the shadow of their 50-over World Cup performance and demonstrate their capability to defend their T20 title effectively.

Squad Details

England:
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Phil Salt
- Jonny Bairstow
- Jofra Archer
- Moeen Ali
- Mark Wood
- Liam Livingstone
- Harry Brook
- Sam Curran
- Chris Woakes
- Adil Rashid

South Africa:
- Temba Bavuma (c)
- Quinton de Kock
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Heinrich Klaasen
- David Miller
- Aiden Markram
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Anrich Nortje
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi

England's focus will be on executing their plans effectively and leveraging the form of their key players to overcome South Africa and advance in the tournament.