'Credit should go to all the bowlers' – Hat-trick hero Shrubsole

Shrubsole ended with 3/11 in 3.3 overs and said she was "not sure" how the hat-trick came about. Instead, she credited Nat Sciver, who returned a fine 3/4 in four overs and helped bundle South Africa out for 85.

"I'm not sure how (I got the hat-trick)," she said. "A couple of slow balls came off for me, and then when they hit the stumps, it's something that's pretty special. But I think credit has got to go toward all the bowlers, and in particular, Nat, who was outstanding today."

Sciver's tally included the important wicket of Lizelle Lee, as South Africa's top order was demolished by England. Sciver's display was all the more impressive, given she was stepping in for Katherine Brunt, the experienced fast bowler who got injured just before England's first game.

"(She's) been outstanding the last couple of games," Shrubsole said of Sciver. "She's been brilliant with the new ball. It's something she's done in the past when I guess either myself or Katherine have been injured, and she always does a brilliant job.

"She's worked really hard in the period leading up to this. I think she made a little bit of a technical change, and the ball is coming out beautifully. She showed it out there today to bowl with the new ball, come back in the middle and bowl at the end. She's got it all really."

As good as the bowlers were, the batters were just as impressive – Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont added 55 runs for the first wicket to make light work of the run chase.

"The way Tammy and Dani came out with some real intent and real aggression with the bat, I think probably put them on the back foot," Shrubsole said.

"I think the bowlers seem to have had the best thing so far here in St. Lucia. The way they came out and played really put us on the front foot."

England will now face the Windies, who demolished Sri Lanka later in the day to book their place in the semi-final. That clash will decide who finishes at the top of the table in Group A.

"Look, we've got a great game to go yet. I think we can't overlook that," Shrubsole said of the Windies face-off. "I think momentum is a huge thing in Twenty20 cricket.

"It's nice to, I guess, kind of have one foot in the semifinals, but we want to come out here and put in a really good performance against West Indies on Sunday, and then we'll start to look to Antigua and adapting to how things might be different out there."