A battling four-wicket win over Bangladesh kept South Africa’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign alive, and by the close of a dramatic double-header the Proteas Women had booked a semi-final against hosts England, at Lord’s in London, England, on Sunday, 28 June 2026.
Laura Wolvaardt’s side knew their fate was not entirely in their own hands. Victory over Bangladesh was essential simply to stay in contention, but qualification also hinged on the night match at the same ground, where India needed to beat Australia to go through at South Africa’s expense. When Australia duly completed a record chase under the Lord’s lights, the Proteas Women were through to the last four for the third major tournament running.
First, though, came the small matter of seeing off a spirited Bangladesh. Asked to bowl, South Africa made the perfect start when Marizanne Kapp bowled Juraiya Ferdous with the very first ball of the match, the wicket bringing up her 100th in T20 Internationals, and Shabnim Ismail had Taj Nehar lbw to reduce Bangladesh to 14 for 2 inside four overs. Kapp was miserly throughout, bowling her four overs straight through for figures of one for nine.
Sobhana Mostary and Sharmin Akter rebuilt with a stand of 56, but left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba turned the innings, bowling Sharmin Akter for 22 as she charged down the pitch and later having Shorna Akter caught by Ismail on the long-on boundary. Nadine de Klerk ended Mostary’s fine 42 with a short ball cut to Mlaba, who finished as the pick of the attack with two for 22.
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty alone kept Bangladesh ticking, closing unbeaten on 32 from 20 balls to lift her side to 117 for 5.
The chase began as badly as it could, Wolvaardt bowled first ball by a beauty from Marufa Akter. Annerie Dercksen steadied the innings with intent, lifting a huge six over deep midwicket, and Tazmin Brits chipped in with 20 before holing out for the Proteas Women to reach 40 for one in the powerplay. When Dané van Niekerk fell lbw to leave South Africa 59 for 3 at the halfway mark, the contest was firmly alive.
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Dercksen, who needed treatment after a diving single, held the chase together alongside Kapp, striking a straight six on her way to 45 before nicking Nahida Akter behind to make it 87 for 4. The boundaries dried up, and when Kapp was run out for 16 and de Klerk superbly caught in the deep for 15, South Africa still needed five from the final over. Chloé Tryon settled it, edging Marufa Akter for four before clearing the infield to see her side home, the chase completed at 118 for 6 with four balls to spare.
That left South Africa to watch and wait. India, the world’s number three side, arrived for the evening fixture knowing only a win over an unbeaten Australia would carry them into the semi-finals, and for long periods they threatened to do exactly that. Harmanpreet Kaur produced a blistering 56 from 25 balls, hitting Sophie Molineux for successive sixes, and a late flurry lifted India to 170 for 4.
It looked a formidable total, but in front of 27,163 spectators, the highest attendance ever recorded at a group-stage match in the competition’s history, Australia chased it down to break the tournament record set on the same ground only a day earlier. The decisive blow was a stand of exactly 100 between Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner, two of the most experienced campaigners in the game, who brought up a fifty apiece as the holders eased home by six wickets with six balls to spare. Perry made 56 and Gardner an unbeaten 53.
Australia’s win wrapped up top spot in the group and set up a semi-final against the West Indies. For South Africa, it confirmed the result they had been hoping for, sending them through to meet England while India, despite Harmanpreet’s heroics, went out.
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For the Proteas Women, who reached the final at both the 2023 and 2024 editions without lifting the trophy, it is another opportunity to go one better. The reward is a last-four meeting with hosts England, and South Africa will carry genuine belief into it after a campaign that has gathered momentum from a chastening opening defeat to Australia, through the returns of senior players, a record run chase against India and now this nerveless escape at the Home of Cricket.
The Proteas Women face England in the semi-final on Thursday, 2 July 2026, with a place in the final, and another shot at history, on the line.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-finals and Final
Tuesday, 30 June at 15h30: Australia vs. West Indies at The Oval, London
Thursday, 2 July at 19h30: South Africa vs. England at The Oval, London
Sunday, 5 July at 16h30: Final at Lord’s, London
All times are SAST
The Proteas Women Group Results at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales
Sat 13 June: Australia beat South Africa by 65 runs (Old Trafford, Manchester)
Wed 17 June: South Africa beat Pakistan by 2 wickets (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
Sun 21 June: South Africa beat India by 6 wickets (Old Trafford, Manchester)
Thu 25 June: South Africa beat Netherlands by 88 runs (Bristol County Ground, Bristol)
Sun 28 June: South Africa beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets (Lord’s, London)
South Africa Women Starting XI against Bangladesh at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, on 28 June 2026
1. Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
2. Tazmin Brits
3. Annerie Dercksen
4. Dané van Niekerk
5. Marizanne Kapp
6. Nadine de Klerk
7. Chloé Tryon
8. Sinalo Jafta (Wicketkeeper)
9. Shabnim Ismail
10. Ayabonga Khaka
11. Nonkululeko Mlaba
Substitutes:
12. Tumi Sekhukhune
13. Kayla Reyneke
14. Karabo Meso
15. Suné Luus
Bangladesh Women Starting XI against South Africa
1. Juraiya Ferdous
2. Taj Nehar
3. Sharmin Akter Supta
4. Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain)
5. Sobhana Mostary
6. Shorna Akter
7. Ritu Moni
8. Rabeya Khan
9. Nahida Akter
10. Marufa Akter
11. Shanjida Akther Maghla
Substitutes:
12. Dilara Akter (Wicketkeeper)
13. Fahima Khatun
14. Fariha Islam Trisna
15. Sultana Khatun
Original Copy: The ICC, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Marizanne Kapp celebrates after taking the wicket of Juairiya Ferdous for her 100th wicket in T20 Internationals, during the final group-stage match against Bangladesh at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, England, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. The win was instrumental in South Africa’s qualification for their semi-final against England on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images / ICC
Photo 2 Caption: Put in to bat, Annerie Dercksen hit a match-winning 45 to steer South Africa to a 4-wicket win to ensure their shot at a finals berth.
Photo 3 Caption: In Sunday’s later match, Australia beat SA contenders India to ensure the Proteas Women’s finals slot, with four wins in five matches.
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