South Africa shocked defending champion Australia in the first semifinal of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
South Africa shocked defending champion Australia in the first semifinal of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, winning by eight wickets to secure a spot in their second consecutive final. In a dramatic reversal from the 2023 final in Cape Town, South Africa chased down Australia’s 134-5 with ease, finishing at 135-2 in just 17.2 overs, with 16 balls to spare.
Australia, the six-time champion, had claimed three consecutive titles before this upset. Anneke Bosch was the standout performer for the Proteas, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 48 balls, which included eight boundaries and one six. Her impressive knock was well supported by captain Laura Wolvaardt, who added 42 runs off 37 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
This victory marked South Africa’s first-ever win against Australia in the history of the tournament. The Proteas now await the winner of the second semifinal between West Indies and New Zealand, set to take place in Sharjah on Friday. The final match is scheduled for Sunday in Dubai, where South Africa will aim for their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title.
