The Proteas Women secured their place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final for the second consecutive year after a commanding eight-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-final in Dubai on Thursday evening, powered by Anneke Bosch’s career-best performance.
Bosch scored an unbeaten 74 off 58 deliveries (8x4, 1x6), while Laura Wolvaardt contributed 42 from 37 balls (3x4, 1x6), as South Africa successfully chased down Australia’s total of 134/5 with 16 balls to spare.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Proteas Women made an ideal start. Ayabonga Khaka (2/24) struck early, dismissing Grace Harris (3) with a smart catch from Bosch at backward point. In the following over, Marizanne Kapp (1/24) removed Georgia Wareham (5), leaving Australia in trouble.
Australia finished the PowerPlay on 35/2, with Beth Mooney (44) and Tahlia McGrath (27) at the crease. Despite some tight bowling from South Africa, the experienced duo guided Australia to 53/2 by the halfway mark.
McGrath and Mooney shared a 50-run partnership for the third wicket by the 12th over before Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/31), now the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in a Women’s T20 World Cup, dismissed McGrath in the 13th over.
With Mooney still anchoring the innings and joined by Ellyse Perry (31), South Africa kept Australia in check, restricting them to 86/3 with five overs left. Kapp then produced a moment of brilliance in the 17th over, running out Mooney and breaking Australia’s resistance.
Phoebe Litchfield (16*) joined Perry at the crease and the pair accelerated towards the end, adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket. Perry was dismissed on the final ball of the innings, as Australia finished on 134/5 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 135 to secure a second consecutive final appearance, South African openers Tazmin Brits (15) and Wolvaardt laid a solid foundation, reaching 25/0 after four overs before Annabel Sutherland (2/26) bowled Brits.
Despite the setback, the Proteas reached 43/1 by the end of the PowerPlay, with Wolvaardt and Bosch finding the boundaries with ease. The pair soon brought up a 50-run partnership after taking South Africa to 74/1 after 10 overs, with both batters in dominant form.
Needing 61 runs from 60 deliveries, Wolvaardt and Bosch continued their assault, taking South Africa into triple figures. Bosch then celebrated her maiden T20 World Cup half-century, the fastest of the tournament so far.
At 121/1 in the 15th over, Sutherland claimed her second wicket by dismissing Wolvaardt to end the 96-run stand, with McGrath taking a simple catch. However, it was too little, too late for the Australians. Bosch struck yet another boundary to seal South Africa’s emphatic victory in the 18th over, securing a place in the T20 World Cup final.
The Proteas Women will face the winners of the second semi-final between New Zealand and the West Indies in the final, scheduled for Sunday, 20 October at 6pm local time (4pm SAST) at the Dubai International Stadium.
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