DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a dramatic upset, South Africa triumphed over the reigning champions Australia in the first semifinal of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, securing their place in the final with an eight-wicket victory. This achievement marks South Africa’s second consecutive final appearance, showcasing their growth in the tournament.
Contrasting the 2023 final held in Cape Town, South Africa successfully chased down Australia’s total of 134 runs, completing the task with 16 balls to spare. Australia, a dominant force with six titles, had previously claimed three consecutive championships, but South Africa managed to break that streak.
Leading the charge, Anneke Bosch played an exceptional innings, finishing with an unbeaten 74 runs from just 48 deliveries, which included eight fours and a six. She received significant support from her captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who contributed 42 runs off 37 balls, striking three fours and a six during her innings. The Proteas ended their innings at 135-2 in 17.2 overs.
This historic victory also marks the first time South Africa has defeated Australia in the tournament’s history. The team now awaits the outcome of the second semifinal between West Indies and New Zealand, taking place in Sharjah on Friday, with the final set to occur in Dubai on Sunday.
Australia’s defeat snapped their impressive run of 15 consecutive match wins in the tournament. This loss also signifies a rare occurrence, as it marks only the second time since 2009 that the six-time champions have not made it to the final in nine editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
In the initial stages, South Africa opted to field first and quickly made impactful breakthroughs. Opener Grace Harris fell for just three runs off Ayabonga Khaka’s bowling, and Georgia Wareham managed only five runs before being caught off Marizanne Kapp’s delivery. Australia found themselves in a difficult position at 18-2 in the third over but was briefly steadied by a 50-run partnership between Beth Mooney and captain Tahlia McGrath.
Mooney emerged as the top scorer for Australia, amassing 44 runs off 42 balls with a couple of boundaries, but she lost her partner McGrath, who scored 27 runs off 33 balls, to left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 13th over. The turning point came during the 17th over, when Kapp ran out Mooney. Ellyse Perry added 31 runs off 23 balls, helping Australia surpass the 100-run mark, but they struggled to gain necessary momentum in the closing overs.
As South Africa began their chase, Annabel Sutherland claimed an early wicket, bowling out Tazmin Brits for 15 runs. However, Wolvaardt and Bosch quickly took control, forming a record 96-run partnership off 65 deliveries for the second wicket — the highest partnership for South Africa against Australia in T20 format. Bosch reached her half-century off just 31 balls and continued to deliver a commanding performance, eventually scoring the tournament’s highest individual score.
Although Sutherland managed to capture another wicket in the 15th over, it was too late for the exiting champions. Bosch was acknowledged as the player of the match for her stellar performance, celebrating her achievement by expressing her excitement and gratitude for the team’s accomplishment.
“My heart is racing. It was tough out there, and I am just glad we got past the finish line,” Bosch stated. “We knew we are capable and had a good tournament coming into this game. To restrict them under 140 tonight was outstanding.”