South Africa’s women’s cricket team pulled off a sensational victory against reigning champions Australia to secure a spot in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. This remarkable win came after the Proteas faced the threat of elimination just two days prior. With a stellar all-round performance, they managed to clinch their second consecutive T20 World Cup final berth.
Winning the toss, Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp delivered a superb bowling display to limit Australia to a total of 134 for 5, despite the absence of Alyssa Healy. Anneke Bosch then played a match-defining innings, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs off 48 balls to lead South Africa to an emphatic 8-wicket victory.
Bosch’s outstanding performance, supported by Laura Wolvaardt, who contributed 96 runs for the second wicket, sealed the win for South Africa with 16 balls to spare. This victory marked South Africa’s first-ever win over Australia in their eighth T20 World Cup encounter and only their second T20I win overall.
Australia’s 15-match winning streak in the tournament was brought to an end by the Proteas, who avenged their defeat in the 2023 T20 World Cup final. The Australian side, which had reached the finals of the past seven editions and won six times, faltered against a resolute South African team in the first semi-final.
South Africa will now await the winner of the match between West Indies and New Zealand in the final scheduled to take place in Dubai on October 20.
Australia Women’s Playing XI: Grace Harris, Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Wareham, Tahlia McGrath (c), Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
South Africa Women’s Playing XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
