England 143 for 5 (Sciver 57) beat West Indies 97 (Kirby 20, Ecclestone 3-7) by 46 runs

England took another step towards the title decider by booking their place in the semi-finals with a convincing victory over West Indies in Sydney. Before her side left for the tournament, England's new Australian coach, Lisa Keightley, had stated that she expected her charges to be in the final and, while their wobble against an impressive South Africa in their opening match raised concerns that objective might be under threat, their latest performance confirmed it remains the basis of their expectations.

Natalie Sciver set the tone with another half-century to lead England to a competitive total on a pitch where, earlier in the day, South Africa had managed 136 for 6 in advancing to the knockout stages with victory over Pakistan. Sophie Ecclestone finished the job with an emphatic 3 for 7 off 3.1 overs. The bowlers were undermined by some sloppy fielding from England, but a spate of troubling injuries for West Indies helped to put the result beyond doubt.

England bowler Kate Cross was taken to hospital after hurting her ankle during the warm-up. While Cross has not played so far in the tournament and was not due to face West Indies, any enforced absence would rob England of an option at the business end of their campaign. But it was a groin injury to West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor, that led to her being stretchered from the field after retiring hurt on 15, that put a serious dent in her side's prospects of taking the fight to England. Taylor played no further part in the game as England moved to the top of Group B with a superior net run rate to South Africa, who also have six points with a game in hand. Their opponents will be decided in the final round of matches, with India already through, and Australia and New Zealand primed for a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday.

Stunning Sciver

Sciver's rich vein of form continued, her third fifty in four innings at this World Cup had match-winning potential all over it. Sciver made 59 off 57 balls on a slow pitch, following innings of 50 in a losing cause against South Africa, an unbeaten 59 against Thailand and 36 against Pakistan.

Sciver's command of the innings became ever more important when England's other in-form batsman, Heather Knight, was run out through what looked like a lack of urgency on the part of the England captain. She ambled through for a single and was found short of her ground as Shakera Selman fired the ball in from short midwicket. Like Knight before her, Sciver fell slightly tamely with an over of the innings to come, spooning a catch to Hayley Matthews at midwicket, but her touch is undeniable.

Top-order shuffle

England's top order has been a talking point so far in this tournament, with Tammy Beaumont being pushed down the order - ostensibly due to her superior skills at the death - in favour of an opening partnership of Danni Wyatt and Amy Jones. The jury remains out after Beaumont was moved back up to the top after Jones had struggled with scores of 23, 0 and 2. Beaumont was out for a second-ball duck, playing round a full Selman delivery which pinned her plumb in front of the stumps.

But if that part of the switch didn't pay off, then Jones' free-flowing cameo at No.6 against West Indies certainly did. She scored 23 off 13 balls, including three fours, to provide England with some vital late momentum as they claimed 36 runs in the final three overs. While Beaumont and Jones have opened together in ODIs in recent times, that effort, along with Wyatt's solid 29 off 27 balls at No.1, looks to have cemented their respective roles for the final matches.

Taylor trouble

When Taylor was stretchered off with an apparent groin injury, the wind seemed to go out of West Indies' sails. Taylor struck a Sciver delivery towards cover and set off but could barely manage to hobble through and collapsed to the ground clutching at her upper thigh in obvious agony. The same motorised stretcher that had driven Cross from the ground before the match was called upon again and Taylor retired hurt.

It was not the only worrying injury for West Indies, with Britney Cooper rolling her ankle as she ran between the wickets and battling with discomfort for the rest of her innings, which by necessity consisted of her taking aim at the boundary rather than seeking singles. She was out attempting a big shot off Ecclestone only to find herself stumped.

Spin twins... triplets?

Ecclestone was in the thick of the action, dismissing Deandra Dottin with just her sixth ball, in the third over of West Indies' chase. Ecclestone tempted Dottin into a pull that wasn't there to be had, and Sciver took a low catch at short midwicket. Ecclestone also took the last wicket, pegging back Anisa Mohammed's off stump to seal the win and claim her 50th wicket in T20Is. That a proven performer like Ecclestone was delivering wickets was no surprise, nor was it that Sarah Glenn, a legspining revelation for England in the past few months, was also instrumental. Glenn finished with 2 for 16 from her four overs, giving her six wickets for the tournament so far at an average of 11.33 and following her her 3 for 15 in the previous match against Pakistan.

On a pitch that was conducive to spin, England opted for a third specialist in the area, Mady Villiers. Making her World Cup debut and playing just her fourth T20 international, offspinner Villiers opened with a wicket maiden when she took a sharp return catch with just her fourth ball to dismiss Shemaine Campbelle, all the while avoiding a near collision with non-striker Chedean Nation.

Record depth sees 17 men go sub-2:08, while Salpeter moves to sixth on women’s all-time list with 2:17:45

Birhanu Legese and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter won the elite-only Tokyo Marathon on Sunday as many fast times were set in an event which featured unprecedented depth.

Legese clocked 2:04:15 to retain his title as nine athletes finished inside 2:07 and 17 went sub-2:08.

Bashir Abdi broke his own Belgian record with 2:04:49 in second, while Legese’s fellow Ethiopian Sisay Lemma was third in 2:04:51.

In fourth, Suguru Osako improved his Japanese record with 2:05:29.

“This is such a wonderful feeling to come back to Tokyo as the reigning champion and to able to win it again,” said Legese. “The conditions where really good today. I think there were many fast times.

“Moments like these is why we work so hard all year long. It was very great for me to come back to Japan and to run this race that I love so much.”

Fast times in Tokyo! Birhanu Legese retains his men’s Tokyo Marathon title in 2:04:15 as 9 athletes go sub-2:07 & 17 sub-2:08! Suguru Osako improves Japanese record with 2:05:29. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter wins women’s race in 2:17:45 to move from 29th to 6th on world all-time list. pic.twitter.com/msuzjuEXLo

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) March 1, 2020

Salpeter dominated the women’s race, breaking the Israeli record with a course best of 2:17:45 which moves her from 29th to sixth on the world all-time list.

Ethiopia’s Birhane Dibaba also finished inside the previous course record with 2:18:35 for second, while Ethiopia’s Asefa Kebede was third in 2:20:30.

Japan’s Haruka Yamaguchi was 10th in 2:30:31.

Britain’s world 50km record-holder Aly Dixon was disappointed with her run which saw her clock 2:43:40 in 20th.

Last month organisers announced that the mass race would be cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak and that only the elite action would take place. If they were attempting to prevent a large gathering of people, however, it did not go completely to plan because large crowds of spectators still came out to watch.

Chris Thompson, Jake Smith, Samantha Harrison and Stephanie Davis also impress as athletes race for World Half Marathon Championships places

Kenenisa Bekele broke the course record to win the Vitality Big Half in London on Sunday as part of his preparations for the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Ethiopia’s multiple Olympic and world gold medallist clocked 60:22 for victory as Chris Thompson claimed the British title after a strong run of 61:07 for the runner-up spot.

In third, Jake Smith ran 62:00 to improve his own British under-23 half-marathon record time by two seconds.

The women’s race was won by Britain’s Lily Partridge as she ran 70:50 to finish ahead of Samantha Harrison and Stephanie Davis.

With the race incorporating the GB trials for the World Half Marathon Championships in Poland on March 29 as well as the British Half Marathon Championships, Thompson looked like he meant business early on in the men’s race as he pushed ahead and led alongside Bekele.

They passed the seven-mile point together but Bekele started to move away as they crossed Tower Bridge and was unchallenged from there.

For Thompson, it was his best half-marathon performance since 2012 when he ran his PB of 61:00 at the Great North Run.

Chris Thompson looks like he means business in the @OfficialBigHalf. Pushed ahead early on and now leads alongside Kenenisa Bekele #BigHalf
(? by @James_Athletics) pic.twitter.com/Hwsqc0oK6V

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) March 1, 2020

Should they all accept their places, Thompson will joined on the GB men’s World Half Marathon Championships team by 21-year-old Smith and Ross Millington, who finished fourth in a PB of 62:33.

Nottingham athlete Harrison is a relative newcomer to running and only started the sport seriously in September 2018 when she entered the Robin Hood Half Marathon as her first race. She led the women’s race in London before Partridge pushed ahead around 55 minutes in but held on for the runner-up spot in a PB of 71:01.

Davis, who achieved an Olympic marathon qualifying time with 2:27:40 in Valencia in December, secured third place and a GB World Half Marathon Championships place in 71:15.

Hayley Carruthers finished fourth in 71:49.

Canada’s Loughborough-based Paralympic 100m champion Brent Lakatos was also a course record-breaker as he won the men’s wheelchair race in 48:44 ahead of Britain’s six-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir in 50:07.

Britain’s London 2012 Paralympic marathon medallist Shelly Woods won the women’s wheelchair race in 62:02.

‘We need women to consider turning pro after college’ says Blatchford Clyne
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

US duo Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Blatchford Clyne have made history. Yesterday’s victories mean that the quarter-finals of the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family will feature two Americans for the first time in the tournament’s 26-year history.

They were cheered to the rooftops in the elegant surroundings of the University Club of Chicago’s Cathedral Hall. The stained-glass windows and sumptuous chandeliers provided a stunning backdrop as Sobhy and Blatchford Clyne emerged triumphant from two thrilling five-game battles.

Boston-based Sobhy, the country’s No.1 player, twice came back from a game behind as she survived a stern test against Hong Kong’s Annie Au, rising to an 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 victory after 51 minutes.

The World No.8 initially struggled as Au’s lob and drop game worked perfectly on a cold court, but a change of ball after the third game worked in the Sobhy’s favour as she ground out the win. Sobhy will take on World No.2 Nouran Gohar for a place in the last four after the Egyptian made short work of Belgium’s Nele Gilis, winning 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 in 24 minutes.

“That was definitely tough. Annie came out firing and I think the ball in the first three games kind of suited her because it was a bit dead and she loves a good lob, drop,” said Harvard-graduate Sobhy.

“I think she is possibly the best in the game at the lob, drop game, so I was getting killed a little bit. Thankfully I asked to change the ball, so that helped. Instead of trying to hit the ball hard I had to use the height a bit, so it was almost like I got sucked into playing Annie’s game.

“I just told myself to fight for every point, to hustle, hustle, hustle and fortunately I did that and came out a winner.”

World No.17 Blatchford Clyne also required five games to overcome Egypt’s Nadine Shahin, winning a captivating contest by an 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 scoreline to reach the quarter-finals of a PSA World Tour Platinum tournament for the first time in her career.

Shahin came into the fixture on a high after hammering 2018 runner-up Joelle King in straight games in the previous round and tested her opponent throughout. However, an immaculate short game ultimately laid the foundations for Blatchford Clyne’s triumph and the 27-year-old will play World No.1 Raneem El Welily in the next round.

“It’s such a pleasure to be a part of this new group [of US women],” Port Chester-based Blatchford Clyne said afterwards.

“I’m really privileged that I get to train with Natalie Grainger who did so much for US squash when she came and played for us. I definitely see that it’s blossoming and I think our biggest goal has to be encouraging girls to come and do this [professional squash] rather than playing recreational squash after college.”

Three-time Windy City Open champion Raneem El Welily booked her place in the quarter-finals for a sixth successive edition after beating World No.13 Salma Hany. Hany struggled with a knee injury and never really got going physically as El Welily swept to an 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 victory in just 22 minutes.

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In the men’s event, Spanish veteran Borja Golan – the oldest player left in the tournament – has reached his first major PSA World Tour quarter-final for three years after the 37-year-old beat Egypt’s Youssef Soliman 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9.

Golan’s last quarter-final appearance at a PSA Platinum event came at the 2017 Windy City Open, He will once again compete on that stage in Chicago as he locks horns with World Champion Tarek Momen, who defeated Golan’s compatriot, Iker Pajares Bernabeu.

“I’m so happy, I don’t think this moment is going to come for me again because I’m finishing my squash career,” said Golan, who won the Windy City Open in 2013.

“I came into this tournament well-prepared with having the Nationals a few weeks ago and I had a few matches in my legs. I play so well in Chicago, probably because it’s a great club, great city and a great crowd. I’m very happy with this win today and with the way I played.”

Meanwhile, World No.2 Ali Farag and World No.7 Diego Elias will go head-to-head in a mouthwatering quarter-final contest after they achieved respective wins over World No.17 Omar Mosaad and World No.11 Joel Makin.

Farag, playing his first tournament since losing the World No.1 ranking to fellow Egyptian Mohamed ElShorbagy, prevailed in a crucial tie-break to take the first game, which gave him the platform to rise to an 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 triumph.

“The first game was crucial, I played Omar last week at the Egyptian Nationals and I never feel comfortable against him,” Farag said.

“He hits very good straight lines, so it is always a struggle to find a good game plan against him. If I was to lose the first, then I had to put some work into his body, but luckily I was able to win the game, saving three game balls, so that was crucial. Then I ran away with the second, but I started to see the finish line way to soon, and Omar will punish you if you do that.”

Elias has been in fine form recently after winning the Motor City Open and reaching the semi-finals of the Canada Cup earlier this month. Against Makin, he displayed the skills that have long seen him heralded as a future contender for the sport’s biggest prizes to complete a 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 victory over his in-form opponent, who had beaten him at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions last month.

Round three action continues tomorrow (March 1), with play beginning at 12:00 (GMT-6). All matches will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour. 

2020 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family, Cathedral Hall, University of Chicago, USA.

Men’s Third Round (Top Half):
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
[6] Diego Elias (PER) bt Joel Makin (WAL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (48m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (67m)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (46m)

Men’s Third Round (Bottom Half today, March 1):
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Adrian Waller (ENG) v [7] Simon Rösner (GER)
[5] Paul Coll (NZL) v Declan James (ENG)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)

Men’s Quarter-Finals (Top Half, tomorrow):
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [6] Diego Elias (PER)
Borja Golan (ESP) v [3] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Women’s Third Round (Top Half):
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [12] Salma Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (22m)
[15] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 (49m)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [10] Annie Au (HKG) 3-2: 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (51m)
[3] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [16] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)

Women’s Third Round (Bottom Half today, Sunday March 1):
Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Lucy Turmel (ENG)
[14] Yathreb Adel (EGY) v [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) v [9] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
Donna Lobban (AUS) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

Women’s Quarter-Finals (Top Half, tomorrow):
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [15] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [3] Nouran Gohar (EGY)

Pictures courtesy of PSA

HOUSTON -- Sandra Hernandez and Manuel Mendez drove six hours from Laredo to Houston to watch LA Galaxy's 1-1 tie with Houston Dynamo in BBVA Stadium on Saturday on the opening day of MLS's 25th season.

The Monterrey natives, recently converted Galaxy fans, had come to watch Mexico national team star Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez make his MLS debut.

"I'm the No. 1 Chicharito fan," said Mendez. "He's the best player mentally that Mexico has had and we've come to see him on this journey he's had as as a player."

Off the field, Hernandez's debut in MLS felt like, and was, a big deal. Mexico's all-time goal scorer has had an illustrious club career, with stops at Chivas, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and Sevilla.

The Dynamo announced a sell-out for the game 24 hours ahead of kick-off and the number of media in attendance meant temporary spaces for reporters had to be made available. Chivas and Mexico shirts were dotted around the stadium in a city that has as many people of Mexican heritage as the central Mexican city of Queretaro. The night before the game, the Galaxy had entered the team hotel in downtown Houston through the side entrance to avoid attention.

Two Houston Dynamo season ticket holders outside the stadium were willing their hometown club on to success, but also wandering around outside the stadium carrying cut-outs of Hernandez and fellow Galaxy player Jonathan dos Santos. They wanted the Dynamo to win, but were hoping El Tri star Hernandez would also provide some fireworks.

A few photos from around @BBVAStadium. pic.twitter.com/eREhBhJH74

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) February 29, 2020

In fact, ever since Hernandez signed for the Galaxy on Jan. 21, the club has been busy keeping up. This is a player with 2.6 million more Twitter followers than even former Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and "Chicharito" retains a special appeal for Mexico fans around the United States.

The Galaxy has sold over 1,000 new season tickets and approximately 3,000 individual game tickets since Hernandez's arrival. There were 155,000 social media posts about Hernandez's transfer to the Galaxy from Wednesday, Jan. 8 (when reports of his signing first emerged) through Friday, Jan. 24, the day after he gave his first news conference.

The off-field impact has been bigger than the Galaxy had expected.

"I expected obviously some impact, but we had 8,000 for an open training session where you can only run around the field a little bit," Galaxy GM Dennis te Kloese told ESPN. "I think it helps that the Galaxy is a brand that gets a lot of attention. The impression of the Galaxy is not only local but is national and even international. I think that makes the impact he can have a little stronger."

But on the pitch, the 31-year-old didn't give the statement-making performance the significant contingent of traveling Galaxy fans, who welcomed the team bus into the stadium, would've hoped for.

By half-time, the new signing -- hailed by some as MLS' most important since David Beckham -- had touched the ball just 11 times and had completed zero passes. At full-time, those numbers had increased to 32 touches and nine passes completed, but the Guadalajara native still had fewer touches than any of the other 21 starters, including the ones who were substituted out.

"I've always said that in this profession, it's not how you start but how you finish," said Hernandez after the game. "I'm happy, calm, things will improve, I've got confidence in this team and they have confidence in me."

Replacing Ibrahimovic with Hernandez was billed in some quarters as bringing in like-for-like. It was one No. 9 for another; one big media celebrity for another, even if the personalities are very different.

But the reality that they are very different types of strikers was very clear on Saturday and the Galaxy may well undergo an awkward process of adaptation. The team could go direct to Ibrahimovic when under any kind of pressure, whereas Hernandez became visibly frustrated at the amount of direct balls that came into him. He could be seen reprimanding teammates, remonstrating with them to play it out from the back along the ground.

"They are totally different players," said Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham, who assisted Cristian Pavon's first half opener. "I think Ibra is probably the best hold-up striker in the world, but at the same time Chicharito is running a lot and helping us defensively ... Chicharito is good to have running in behind, or he'll check back to the ball, so they are definitely different players."

Bingham went on to highlight Hernandez's workrate and there's no doubt the Galaxy under Guillermo Barros Schelotto will press higher and more often than last year, when 38-year-old Ibrahimovic's presence and lack of dynamism meant it was almost impossible.

But Saturday's game showed the Galaxy is still very much a work in progress with its new star player. Hernandez had just one shot all game and that was from nearly 30 yards away -- not exactly from where he is most deadly in front of goal, although Houston did a very good job of cutting out his supply.

All this is not to say that Hernandez in MLS is not going to work.

The player has scored 129 goals over his career for club and country at a rate of one every 0.54 games, almost one every two games. The goal scoring pedigree at the highest level is clear. And for Hernandez, it's not about touches, overhead bicycle kicks, pretty moves or completed pass rates; it's as simple as understanding that he needs service in the right place at the right time.

Wingers Pavon and Aleksandar Katai, another Galaxy debutant, and the rest of the team are at the start of the process of getting used to that.

"Obviously, yes [we are getting to know how each other plays]," said Pavon afterwards. "[Hernandez and Ibrahimovic] have different characteristics, but as the games and the season go on I'll feel like we'll understand each other better."

Hernandez's first game in MLS was a success for the excitement it generated but, predictably, the Galaxy need time to adapt to him on the field, and vice versa.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in the third ODI, most likely because the Pallekele surface often has something for the seamers under lights. They also won their last match by 161 runs, batting first.

The hosts were unchanged for the dead rubber, with Dasun Shanaka and Niroshan Dickwella forced to sit out once again. Although it may have been tempting to give the fringe players in the squad an opportunity with the series already won, Sri Lanka have had such little success in ODIs in the past two years, they perhaps feel it is more important to try and get another win under their belt.

West Indies, meanwhile, left out Keemo Paul, despite his having played an excellent finishing innings in the first ODI. Paul was modest with the ball in Hambantota however, and has been omitted in favour of legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who played the first match but not the second. Walsh's inclusion means West Indies have two specialist spin options - left-arm spinner Fabian Allen being the other - for the first time in the series.

West Indies: 1 Sunil Ambris, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt.), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Hayden Walsh Jr., 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Sheldon Cottrell

Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

World number two Rafael Nadal has won his third Mexican Open title after cruising past Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-2 in the final.

Top seed Nadal did not lose a set all tournament and powered past Fritz at Acapulco to win his 85th singles title, and his first of the season.

"I couldn't be happier, I played great from beginning to end," Nadal said.

"Acapulco was the first big title that I won in my career, so to be able to stay here after 15 years is amazing."

The Spaniard's first two Mexican titles were on clay in 2005 and 2013, but he completed his hat-trick on hard court.

World number 35 Fritz was facing Nadal for the first time, despite playing in his fifth ATP Tour final, and the 22-year-old American said his opponent is one of the "best ever".

"He's one of the best players to ever play the game and he showed me why that is tonight," Fritz said.

"This is one of my favourite tournaments to come to every year. I'm just glad that I could have a good week at one of my favourite events."

Nadal joins David Ferrer and Thomas Muster as the only players to win at least three singles titles at the event.

Britain's Heather Watson has won the Mexican Open by beating Canada's Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-1.

Watson, 27, claimed victory with her 10th championship point, having withstood a second-set fightback from the 17-year-old, to win her fourth career title and the first since 2016.

Victory for the world number 69 will see her re-enter the Top 50 of the WTA singles rankings on Monday.

"It was so up and down but I'm so happy to get my fourth title," said Watson.

"It's been a few years, so I'm just really, really happy I came through that match."

Watson lost her first five championship points in the second set tie-break before regaining her composure to only lose one game in the final set.

"I had those [match] points in the second set, and I wasn't able to win that, but I was really pleased with how I stayed in the moment, and won that third set," she added.

Watson's last title also came in Mexico when she won in Monterrey four years ago, after previous victories in Osaka (2012) and Hobart (2015).

She is the first British player to reach the Acapulco final and victory will move her closer to her career-best position of 38, which she reached in January 2015.

Her opponent, the current world number 190, will also rise up the rankings after reaching her first quarter-final, semi-final, and final this week.

"I've played Leylah two times before this and I knew what to expect," said Watson.

"She's a great player, and I knew it would be really tough, but the thing I notice about her the most is the head on her shoulders.

"She's very, very mature for her age and I think it's her mental toughness that really stands out."

South Africa 136 for 6 (Wolvaardt 53*) beat Pakistan 119 for 5 (Riaz 39*) by 17 runs

Laura Wolvaardt produced one of the innings of the tournament as South Africa rebounded from a tricky start against Pakistan to book their spot in the semi-finals. Wolvaardt struck a 36-ball half-century which lifted a stuttering innings into a total that proved too much for Pakistan who were missing captain Bismah Maroof after she was ruled out of the tournament with a finger injury.

Pakistan had made the early running through another impressive new-ball spell from Diana Baig and for much of the innings it appeared South Africa would struggle to make 120, but Wolvaardt changed all that as she struck 33 off her last 15 deliveries with 29 runs coming off the last two overs.

South Africa defended the total without the services of Marizanne Kapp, who missed the Thailand match with a respiratory infection and struggled after her innings on a warm day, as the remaining bowlers, led by Shabnim Ismail, applied consistent pressure to Pakistan's top order which proved too much to handle.

Baig does it again

Baig set the tone for Pakistan's victory against West Indies and she produced a similarly demanding spell here. The dangerous Lizelle Lee, who scored a century against Thailand, fell in the opening over when she edged an outswinger and in her third over - which became a wicket maiden - Baig had Dane van Niekerk dragging on. She thought she had removed van Niekerk in her previous over when the South Africa captain was given lbw, but the DRS showed the ball just missing leg stump. Not than van Niekerk had been especially confident of it being overturned - she was halfway off the ground before the ball-tracking confirmed her reprieve. Not that it lasted long. Baig's opening spell finished with 3-1-13-2.

Wolvaardt lights up South Africa

Wolvaardt's T20I career has not taken off in the way her ODI form has - where she averages 45 - and she has been handed a new role in the middle order for this tournament. Today's innings may come to be viewed as a breakout moment for her. South Africa were 54 for 3 at the halfway mark when she walked in, and soon 64 for 4 when Kapp departed, and in desperate need of a strong second half. Woolvaardt produced a wonderfully measured innings, running hard - something not always seen in this tournament - and then finishing with a blaze of boundaries as she struck five of her last six deliveries for four. The crispness and power of her driving was outstanding, strong wrists enabling her to find gaps between and over fielders.

Ismail's difference

Without Kapp, even more onus fell on Ismail and she responded with a two-over new-ball spell that put Pakistan on the back foot. She conceded just two runs off the bat and her second over was a wicket maiden when she induced Muneeba Ali to splicing a pull to mid-on. Pakistan did not help themselves with some poor running which brought the wicket of Umaima Sohail who hit the ball straight to cover and set off immediately, on for Javeria Khan to not move an inch.

Bad luck ends Pakistan's challenge

Though Pakistan were behind the required rate, Javeria started to play some strong drives to suggest that South Africa may struggle in the absence of Kapp. Wanting a sixth bowler, van Niekerk turned to Chloe Tryon, who is a rarely used option these days, and her first delivery was dispatched down the ground. However, four balls later came the moment that all-but decided the game when Aliya Riaz drove a delivery firmly back down the pitch, it clipped Tyron's fingers and ricocheted into the non-striker's stumps with Javeria forlornly short of her crease.

South Africa celebrated their moment of fortune, Javeria walked off with her team's chances done although brave hitting from Riaz and Iram Javed hinted at what might have been. Pakistan have shown improvement this tournament but barring a mathematical miracle will again exit in the group stage.

Bangladesh chose to bat v Zimbabwe

Bangladesh won the toss and batted first in their first one-day international for seven months. Mehidy Hasan, who was left out of the Test squad, returned to Bangladesh's white-ball playing XI, as did Mahmudullah. Mohammad Saifuddin and Mustafizur Rahman were also included.

Zimbabwe, likewise, have not played an ODI since their ill-fated trip to Ireland in July last year, a tour which coincided with their suspension from ICC full membership and a couple of months of boardroom chaos. There have been a couple of changes in personnel for them in the interim, with Chamu Chibhabha returning to the one-day side after an absence of 19 months and taking the helm as captain.

With Craig Ervine absent through illness, having picked up the flu, and Sean Williams - who missed the one-off Test to be present for the birth of his daughter - having only just arrived in Bangladesh to join the tour, Zimbabwe offered a debut to 19-year-old all-round prodigy Wesley Madhevere, who performed well at the recent Under-19 World Cup. Zimbabwe's missing players meant that Stuart Matsikenyeri, who is the team's batting coach, was listed as a substitute fielder on Zimbabwe's team sheet.

Sylhet has not hosted an ODI since December 2018, and the pitch, with a good covering of grass, should favour the batsmen. There are a couple of cracks in it, however, and it could well slow up a little under lights later on. Bangladesh may also have a little dew to deal with when they take the field later.

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal 2 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 3 Liton Das, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mehidy Hasan, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Zimbabwe: 1 Chamu Chibhabha (capt), 2 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 3 Wesley Madhevere, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Regis Chakabva, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 8 Tinontenda Mutombodzi, 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Chris Mpofu