Dubai: The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is being held in the United Arab Emirates. However, the first semi-final match between defending champions Australia and South Africa was held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 17 at 7 PM IST in Dubai. South Africa won the toss and declared to bowl first.
The Australian openers Grace Harris and wicketkeeper Beth Mooney gave a joint start for the team. But Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Grace Harris for just 3 runs off 5 balls with her very first delivery, giving South Africa their first breakthrough of the match. Then, Georgia Wareham, a right-handed dynamo, was stepped up to the crease. But Marizanne Kapp dismissed Wareham for 5 off 9, caught brilliantly by Sinalo Jafta.
After that, Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath steadied the innings with a solid 50-run partnership. But left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed McGrath for 27 off 33, which included 3 fours. On the other hand, Marizanne Kapp ran out Mooney for 44 runs off 42 balls. Ellyse Perry, the seasoned right-hander, was stepped up to the crease with an attacking mindset. However, in the very last ball, Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Perry with a quickfire 31 off 23. At last, Phoebe Litchfield followed up with 16 runs off nine deliveries.
Finally, the Australian team struggled to score 134-5 in 20 overs. Ayabonga Khaka took the maximum 2 wickets; Marizanne Kapp and Mlaba bagged one wicket each for South Africa. Chasing 135, South Africa’s top openers, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, gave a cautious start to the team. Before powerplay, Annabel Sutherland bowled out Tazmin Brits for 15 off 15.
But on the other hand, captain Laura Wolvaardt had an anchoring performance. Anneke Bose, who paired with him next, played aggressively and bowled the Australian bowlers. In that way, both of them put up a partnership of 96 runs for the second wicket and brought South Africa to victory. But Annabel Sutherland dismissed Laura Wolvaardt for 42 off 37, which included 3 fours and a six.
But on the other hand, Bose continued to play brilliantly and scored 74 off 48* with 8 fours and a six. Finally, South Africa scored 135-2 in 17.2 overs and won by 8 wickets. With it, South Africa registered a first-ever win against Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup. This is the second consecutive time in the T20 World Cup that South Africa reached the final. Earlier in the T20 World Cup 2023 also, the South African team reached the final. However, they could not win the title, and the team had to face defeat at the hands of Australia.
But defending champion Australia has been knocked out for the first time in 15 years. Australia lost in the semi-final in 2009. After that, Australia won the semi-final consecutively and qualified for the final, winning the trophy six times and setting a record as the monster of women’s cricket. However, South Africa has confirmed its place in the final by defeating Australia in a one-sided fashion in the semi-final match.
