South Africa pulled off a stunning upset at the Women’s T20 World Cup, ruthlessly defeating defending champions and six-time champions Australia to reach Sunday's final.
The Proteas had lost all seven previous matches against Australia in this competition, including the 2023 final in Cape Town, with Anneke Bosch (74 no off 48 balls) taking eight wickets. They won, ending their opponents’ hopes of winning a fourth consecutive title. ) played the leading role.
Bosch smashed nine quotas, including the winning four, while captain Laura Wolvaardt hit 42 off 37 balls as South Africa reached their target of 135 with 16 balls to spare in Dubai and at the same venue. The match against either West Indies or New Zealand has been confirmed.
Score summary – Australia vs South Africa
Australia 20 overs 134-5: Beth Mooney (44 off 42), Ellyse Perry (31 off 23). Ayabonga Kaka (2-24)
South Africa 135-2, 17.2 overs: Anneke Bosch (74 nos for 48), Laura Wolvaardt (42 nos for 37). Annabelle Sutherland (2-26)
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Watch the moments of South Africa vs Australia’s victory in Dubai
Australia are still without captain Alyssa Healy, who injured her leg in the match against Pakistan on October 11, but after she was brought on, they stuttered at 134-5. Beth Mooney (44 out of 42) top-scored and became the fastest player to reach 3,000 T20 internationals, reaching the milestone of 100 innings.
South Africa are favorites to win the tournament as they breeze through the chase, Bosch and Wolvaardt drumming 96 off 65 deliveries for the second wicket to ensure a place in the Women’s T20 World Cup final is in jeopardy for the first time. probably would have removed Healy’s coaching on the field. Featuring at least one of Australia and England.
Australia will not be playing in the final for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 2009, but their 15-game winning streak in the tournament was broken by a South African team, and they will be looking to win their first World Cup in either 20-over or 50-over cricket. Ta.
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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt hits long range with a stunning six points off Australia’s Darcy Brown
South Africa makes a big impact in Dubai
Australia lost the toss and fell to 18-2 after three overs, with Grace Harris (3 wins) and Georgia Wareham (5 wins) taking on Ayabonga Kaka (2-24) and Marisanne Cupp (1 win) respectively. 24 losses).
Mooney and stand-in skipper Talia McGrath (27) rebuilt with a partnership of 50 off 55 deliveries, while Ellyse Perry (31 off 23) and Phoebe Lichfield (16 off 9) ) scored 35 runs off the last 19 deliveries as Mooney put in a great performance. used up by the cup.
14 of Perry’s runs came after he was dropped at long-off by Tazmin Blitz for 17, while Litchfield, in an enterprising cameo, hit 4 with 3 boundaries overall. He rifled the first ball he faced at bat.
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Watch Beth Mooney’s spectacular finish to the Marizanne Cup in Dubai.
South Africa surged to 43-1 on the power play. The Proteas vastly outscored Australia 35-2 in the first six overs. The Englishman was sent off, Annabelle Sutherland clubbed for six in the fourth over, and Annabelle Sutherland made 15 in the fifth over. , enhances your run score instead of hindering it.
Bosch swept in consecutive fours from Sophie Molyneux in the sixth over and in the next over, Australian pacer Darcy Brown hit sweetly in Walbert’s sixth over to put the defending champions on the back foot.
Spinners Wareham and Gardner then Wolvaardt and Bosch recorded South Africa’s best partnership against Australia in T20 cricket, but perhaps the only disappointment for the Proteas was Wolvaardt chipping Sutherland at the end to McGrath (2 -26) He probably wasn’t there. 15th over mid-off.
Player of the Match Bosch took Megan Schutt two balls to the midwicket boundary in the 18th over for an emphatic win, sparking wild celebrations in South Africa and ending Australia’s recent dominance in the event. I cut it off.
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Captains Talia McGrath and Laura Wolvaardt reflect on South Africa’s victory over Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final
McGrath: South Africa beat us!
Australia stand-in captain Talia McGrath:
“(Loss) would be quite difficult to take. We didn’t play very well tonight and you can’t afford to do that in a tournament like this. They outplayed us tonight because South Africa… It’s an achievement. And we lost.” Not at our best.
“We’ve had this World Cup on our minds for a long time. We’ve worked hard during the offseason to fine-tune some things and we’ve prepared really well for this. I felt like I left no stone unturned.”But tonight I didn’t show up.
“We were very tricky and South Africa bowled really well. They kept the stump line and slowed the pace down well and made it difficult for us to take risks. At the halfway mark, probably 140-150. I thought it was par, but it fell short.” South Africa then looked like a completely different wicket and batted very well. ”
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Highlights from Dubai, where South Africa defeated favorites Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Player of the Match, Anneke Bosch:
“It was a pretty tough situation but I’m really happy to get over the line and contribute to some goals in the end. “We knew we were capable of it (winning) and we’ve been pretty good so far. I had a good tournament and was able to go into the opening match.”I was pretty confident about this match.
“I think our batsmen were unbelievable this tournament and our bowlers were really good too. I think our bowlers did a really good job of restricting Australia to under 140 today.”
What’s next?
West Indies will face New Zealand in the second semi-final in Sharjah on Friday, with Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event coverage beginning at 2.30pm, before the first pitch at 3pm.
Dubai will play the final on Sunday, with the match starting at 3pm. Warm-up matches begin at 2.30pm on Sky Sports Cricket.
