South Africa Stun Australia to Reach 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Final
South Africa defeated the defending champions, Australia, to guarantee their place in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup final with an incredible display.
South Africa successfully chased down 134 with 16 balls remaining, thanks in large part to Anneke Bosch’s career-best 74* off 48 balls, which started the chase and sealed the victory.
Key Performances and Match Results
South Africa 135 for 2 (Bosch 74*, Wolvaardt 42, Sutherland 2-26) beat Australia 134 for 5 (Mooney 44, Perry 31, Khaka 2-24) by 8 wickets.
Match Analysis
With the papare band playing in front of a small crowd at Dubai International Stadium, South Africa showed them all how it’s done.
A solid batting display, highlighted by a 96-run partnership between captain Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, ensued after a joint bowling effort. They ended Australia’s record of seven consecutive final appearances in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with an eight-wicket victory in the opening semi-final.
Following Meg Lanning’s retirement, Australia’s maiden ICC tournament ended in the knockout rounds. The six-time winners were also without Alyssa Healy, who sustained a foot injury against Pakistan.
Despite a late comeback, South Africa initially held Australia to 134 for 5, and then they easily won by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining to create a huge impression and advance to their second consecutive T20 World Cup final.
When South Africa put Australia in a tight situation during the toss, it was clear how they were thinking. With the new ball, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka had adequate swing. To pick up a wicket, Khaka didn’t even need to learn about the transaction. Grace Harris slashed her first ball of the game, a length ball that curved away from a touch and went into the palms of backward point.
In the first over, Kapp had sufficiently movement in both directions. She witnessed Georgia Wareham smash a free hit through the square leg in her second. But with the DRS helping South Africa, she exploited the outswing to undo the batter. Wareham was unable to withstand the slash as Kapp bowled a solid length delivery around the fifth stump. Although Kapp and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta were aware of the edge, the on-field umpire failed to see it.
Wolvaardt granted Kapp a third consecutive over within the powerplay since she was receiving so much help. Australia finished the T20 World Cup with 19 dots after scoring their lowest-ever score of 35 for 2 in the first six overs.
Fans refer to Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath as “McMooney” because of their many bat rescues. They joined forces when Australia were 18 for 2 after three overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba’s over saw two fours from McGrath to conclude the powerplay, but it seemed like the ball was not hitting the bat. McGrath’s second boundary didn’t come until the eleventh over as Wolvaardt took advantage of this by applying spin to both ends of the ball. A few overs later, she was out, hitting Mlaba clean to cover to break her 50-run partnership with Mooney.
Australia appeared to have the ideal foundation for success at that point. In the 16th over, Mooney, who was on 37 off 38 at the time, swung one through square leg to finish another boundary-less 29-ball phase. She achieved this feat by becoming the ninth woman to reach 3000 T20I runs, and the third Australian. But thanks to some incredible Kapp skill, she was run out for 44 off 42 balls in an attempt to steal a nonexistent run.
Despite this, Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield helped Australia secure a solid finish as they amassed 31 runs in the final three overs. But it was not strong enough in light of what came next.
In the opening six overs, South Africa faced 19 dot balls, just as Australia. However, they ended that phase with five fours and a six, making 43 for 1, the highest total by any side against Australia in this T20 World Cup. However, South Africa scored 32 off 10 powerplay attempts, compared to Australia’s 21 from nine attacking shots.
Tazmin Brits was fearless when it came to using her feet, first against Megan Schutt and later against Ashleigh Gardner. Gardner was struck for a six by the British, clearing Annabel Sutherland, who was leaping at the rope.
But Sutherland struck first, delivering a length delivery that skidded and rattled the British off stump. Australia should have been exerting more pressure, but Wolvaardt and Bosch had other plans. After Sutherland was bowled over by the former first, Bosch smashed two consecutive boundaries off Sophie Molineux in the sixth over. In addition, Wolvaardt hit her teammate Darcie Brown of the Adelaide Strikers for a huge six by swinging him long-on.
Throughout South Africa’s pursuit, Bosch’s intent was evident as she attempted a few reverse hits and showed remarkable agility when facing spin. From the third to the eighth over, South Africa had smashed a four in each. Three boundary-less overs ensued, until Bosch broke the mold by hitting Wareham for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries. In the following over, she faced Gardner and went 4, 2, 4, reaching her fifty.
With South Africa just 14 away, Wolvaardt collapsed, holing out to long-off. Bosch dutifully completed it to record her best T20I score of 74 and stay undefeated.
Australia had not lost to South Africa in Twenty20 Internationals until earlier this year. Who would have thought that would lead to something this significant and bring them one step closer to winning their first world championship?
