South Africa enter consecutive finals, knock defending champions Australia out of 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup
Six-time champions Australia crashed out of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 after suffering a defeat against Laura Wolvaardt-led South Africa in the first semi-final. After restricting the defending champions to 134/5, the previous edition’s runner-ups chased down the target in 17.2 overs on Thursday, October 17.
Wolvaardt won the toss and decided to chase. Australia continued with the same playing XI that they deployed for their group-stage game against India, with regular skipper Alyssa Healy missing out. Tahli McGrath, the stand-in skipper, led the side in the semi-final clash too.
Healy, who sustained an injury to her right foot during the team’s game against Pakistan, sat out of the game against South Africa. Australia’s top order failed to fire as South African bowlers put up a tremendous performance, thereby restricting the former from gaining momentum
Overall, Australian batters couldn’t manage to go big and scored runs at a slow pace. Though Proteas women could only pick five wickets, they restricted the defending champions to a decent total, setting themselves a chaseable target of 135 runs.
South Africa clinch an 8-wicket win to avenge last edition’s final loss against Australia
Proteas women had a decent start to their innings, losing just one wicket in the powerplay. Laura Wolvaardt got the chase going and scored a 37-ball 42 before being dismissed by Annabel Sutherland.
It was then the splendid display of batting by top-order batter Anneke Bosch, who remained unbeaten scoring 74 runs in 48 deliveries, hitting eight fours and one six. She made the most of the 12th and 13th overs by Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner, hitting the former for 11 runs and the latter for 10.
She was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match award as South Africa cruised past Australia to make it to their second consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup final. The Women in Green and Yellow will either face New Zealand or West Indies in the final. The two sides take on each other in the second semi-final on Friday, October 18.