West Indies pledge to take ownership of perilous position against South Africa

NICK HOWSON: The Windies need to win and hope other results go their way in pursuit of a place in the semi-finals, while The Proteas need one more victory to join Australia in the last four

The semi-finals of the women's World Cup may not begin for another week, but West Indies need to adopt a knock-out mentality for the defining clash with South Africa.

Despite an encouraging start to the competition, defeat to Pakistan on Monday (March 21) leaves the Windies needing to win their final group and for favours from elsewhere.

Victory would move the 2013 runners-up onto eight points but their inferior net run-rate means wins for India and England in their remaining matches would send them out.

The experience of the likes of Anisa Mohammed, part of that group from nine years ago that went all the way to the final before defeat to Australia, will be critical to ensuring the team perform when it matters most

^{Pakistan struck a blow to West Indies' hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals (Michael Bradley/Getty Images)}

"We can only control the things we can control, so tomorrow’s game is going to be very crucial and very important for us," said Mohammed, who has played 140 ODIs and 117 T20Is.

"We have to play our best game tomorrow and just sit and wait and hopefully be able to go into the semifinals.

She added: "We've won two of the toughest games at the start of the tournament and to come and lose now would be very heartbreaking.

"Not just me for all the team members but we're really hoping to be able to change things around tomorrow. 

"So it's really going to be tough matches I think it's going to be hard-fought, but we're always up for the challenge and we have world-class players."

"We're still positive, we know there's still a chance. So we’re going to go hard tomorrow."

Though South Africa have already moved onto the magic eight points, courtesy of four straight wins at the start of the competition, they require one more to confirm a last-four spot alongside Australia.

They carry a winning record over West Indies, having prevailed in 16 of their 32 meetings (10 defeats, three tied, three no results). The Proteas also got the better of the recent ODI series between the two sides last September, cruising to a 4-1 win.

Despite being within touching distance of the knock-out phase, knowing their final opponents West Indies and India also have to keep winning in order to progress means South Africa can ill-afford to lose concentration.

Sune Luus is urging her side to stay cool (Andy Jackson/Getty Images)

Captain Sune Luus, who has injury concerns over a number of players including Masabata Klass who missed the loss to Australia, said: "I think every team member knows that the next two matches are really crucial for us and our dream is to win a World Cup and every game counts towards that. 

"So I think you know, tomorrow the team's going to come out hard and we know that West Indies and India need a win as well and we’re both their last games, so they're going to come hard as well. So we need to be extremely clinical tomorrow.

"We need both the batting and the bowling to fire as well. So it's really going to be tough matches I think it's going to be hard-fought, but we're always up for the challenge and we have world-class players. 

"And I think it's definitely going to show tomorrow and the game against India."