In the 2023 T20 World Cup final, South Africa lost to Australia by 19 runs to miss out on their maiden ICC silverware. However, this time they overcame the Aussie hurdle and will eye to clinch the title on Sunday. The second semifinal will be played between West Indies and New Zealand in Sharjah on Friday.
Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl first. South African bowlers backed their skipper's decision and bowled economically to restrict Australia to 134/5 in 20 overs with Beth Mooney playing a knock of 44 runs while Ellyse Perry contributed 31.
Chasing a below-par 135, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave a cautious start to South Africa in the powerplay before Annabel Sutherland drew first blood for Australia in the fifth over. She removed Brits for 15 as Anneke Bosch joined her captain in the middle. The senior duo lived up to the occasion and stitched a 96-run match-setting stand for the second wicket. Bosch played the role of aggressor and hit eight fours and a six in a 74-run knock while Wolvaardt struck 37-ball 42 including three fours and a maximum before Sutherland got her second for the night in the 15th over.
It was too late for Australia to further dent South Africa's chase as new batter Chloe Tryon only contributed one run with Bosch finishing in fashion to take her side over the line in the 18th over.
Before the start of the match, South Africa have never defeated Australia in the women's T20I. On the other hand, Australia will not play the T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2009. In the tournament's history, Australia have won six titles and finished runners-up once.
Earlier, Australia managed to score 134 runs in front of economical Proteas bowlers. Grace Harris, who had previously scored 40 as a makeshift opener against India, was dismissed for just three off Ayobonga Khaka, giving South Africa their first breakthrough of the match. The Aussies also lost Georgia Wareham early on, but Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath steadied the innings with a solid 50-run partnership for the third wicket.
Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the partnership by dismissing McGrath for 27. Mooney continued until the 17th over, scoring 44 runs off 42 balls before being run out. Ellyse Perry then came in with an attacking mindset, boosting the innings with a quickfire 31 runs off 23 balls.
Phoebe Litchfield, who had a useful cameo against India, followed up with 16 runs off nine deliveries. Khaka stood out among South Africa's bowlers with figures of 2-24 in four overs. Marizanne Kapp and Mlaba bagged one wicket each while Chloe Tryon finished with the figures of 0-25 in her four overs.
Brief scores: Australia 134/5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 44, Ellyse Perry 31; Ayabonga Khaka 2-24) lost to South Africa 135/2 in 17.2 overs (Anneke Bosch 74*, Laura Wolvaardt 42; Annabel Sutherland 2-26) by eight wickets.
--IANS
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