South Africa have made history, beating the ICC T20 World Cup defending champions Australia to qualify for their second consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. All Photos: gsport

South Africa have made history, beating the ICC T20 World Cup defending champions Australia for the first time ever in a Women’s T20 World Cup match, in the tournament’s first semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, 17 October, 2024.

The South African cruised to their astounding 8-wicket win with more than 2 overs to spare, with stand-out batter Anneke Bosch hitting the winning runs to record a career-best 74* after having reached her fifth international T20 50 in sublime style.

South Africa’s advantage started before Thursday as a result of having played more matches in Dubai than Australia, who were more unfamiliar with the conditions. 

With the 2023 world champs in the semi-final without the figurehead taliswoman Alyssa Healy to lead them, their disadvantage continued with Laura Wolvaardt called right at the toss and chose to field first.

And with immediate effect too, both Proteas Women Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp striking inside the first three overs to remove two Australia’s most prized batters from the equation.

Australia struggled with the conditions and with the qualify of the SA attack, and would have been disappointed at their eventual under-par 134/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Their turn to bat, SA openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits spent a cautious opening two overs before setting about the chase in earnest, and following the loss of Brits and the introduction of the classy Anneke Bosch, SA surpassed Australia’s powerplay total by the significant margin of 8 runs and the wicket of a top-order batter.

As Australia cycled through six bowlers trying to find a chink in the Proteas Women’s batters’ armour, Bosch – soon the heavier of the two hitters – and Wolvaardt continue to keep the scoreboard ticking over, putting in the hard yards when the boundaries weren’t on offer, and both of them clearing the ropes for the maximum when they were.

Skipper Wolvaardt lost her stumps clean bowled by Tahlia McGrath for an invaluable contribution of 42 runs off 37 balls on the stroke of the 15th over, but Bosch hardly needed the company of Chloe Tryon before smashing the winning runs, with 16 balls to spare.

A sensational day for SA women’s cricket, but they are professionals, and will beware of celebrating too early. The big day is yet to come, and their opponent – the winner of the second semi-final between West Indies and New Zealand still to be determined. But what a sensational day it was!

South Africa and Knock-Out Fixtures for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, from 3 – 20 October

Fri, 4 Oct: 1st T20I: South Africa beat West Indies by 10 wickets (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
Mon, 7 Oct: 2nd T20I: England beat South Africa by 7 wickets (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
Wed, 9 Oct: 3rd T20I: South Africa beat Scotland by 80 runs (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
Sat, 12 Oct: 4th T20I: Bangladesh lost to South Africa by 7 wickets (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
Thu, 17 Oct: South Africa beat Australia by 8 wickets (with 16 balls rem.)
Fri, 18 Oct 16h00: West Indies vs New Zealand (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
Sun, 20 Oct 16h00: Final – SOUTH AFRICA VS WINNER SF2 (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)

The Proteas Women XI for the Third T20I vs Scotland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE on Wednesday, 9 October, 2024

Laura Wolvaardt (c)
Tazmin Brits
Anneke Bosch
Marizanne Kapp
Chloe Tryon
Annerie Dercksen
Suné Luus
Nadine de Klerk
Sinalo Jafta (wk)
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Ayabonga Khaka


Main Photo Caption: South Africa have made history, beating the ICC T20 World Cup defending champions Australia to qualify for their second consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. All Photos: gsport

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Launched in 2006, gsport exists to enhance the commercial prospects of our women athletes, and other women in sport, by telling the inspiring story of SA women in sport. Thank you for your contribution!

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