South Africa defeated Australia by 8 wickets in first semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, to book their spot in the final.
South Africa thus exacted revenge for their loss in the last summit clash at home, when Australia won by 19 runs to lift their sixth title.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Semi-final: Australia vs South Africa – LIVE
A superb 74 not out from Anneke Bosch fired South Africa into their second final as they demolished defending champions Australia.
Put in, Australia were stopped at a modest 134 for five as Beth Mooney top-scored with a 42-ball 44 in the first semifinal.
Ayabonga Khaka (2/24) was the most successful bowler for South Africa, even as others chipped in nicely.
Laura Wolvaardt opted to field after winning the toss and her decision was justified as Ayabonga Khaka had Grace Harris and then Marizanne Kapp accounted for the wicket of Georgia Wareham to leave the Australians struggling at 18 for two in the third over.
Tahlia McGrath (27 off 33 balls) joined Mooney in the middle and the two steadied the Australian innings with a 50-run stand for the third wicket.
The partnership was broken when Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed McGrath to bring Ellyse Perry into the middle at the start of the 13th over.
Set 135 to win, South Africa reached their target with 16 balls to spare, with Bosch, who struck eight fours and a six in her 48-ball innings, sharing a match-winning partnership of 96 with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (42).
In Sunday’s final, which will be the first not to feature one of Australia or England, the South Africans will face either West Indies or New Zealand who meet in the second semi-final on Friday.
Australia, who have won six of the previous eight editions, had been the odds-on favourites to win a seventh title in the United Arab Emirates.
However, they had no answer to the South Africans for whom this marked a measure of revenge for defeat by Australia in last year’s final in Cape Town.
Put into bat, Australia struggled from the start with the normally fluent Beth Mooney top-scoring with a grafting 44 that included just two fours.
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