DUBAI: Anneke Bosch’s unbeaten half-century powered South Africa to stun defending champions Australia by eight wickets and qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final.
Set to chase 135, South Africa comfortably knocked the winning runs when Bosch fittingly hit Megan Schutt for a four on the second delivery of the 18th over.
The Proteas, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as Tazmin Brits fell victim to Annabel Sutherland on the first delivery of the fifth over. She scored a run-a-ball 15.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt was then joined by Bosch in the middle and together they dominated Australia bowlers to put South Africa in touching distance.
The pair shared a match-defining 96-run stand, which lasted with Wolvaardt’s dismissal in the 15th over. The South African captain made 42 off 37 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.
Meanwhile, Anneke Bosch kept going and registered a one-sided third-wicket partnership with Chloe Tryon (1*) to guide South Africa to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final.
Bosch top-scored for South Africa with an unbeaten 74 off just 48 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.
For Australia, Annabel Sutherland bagged two wickets, while the rest went wicketless.
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Put into bat first, the defending champions had to settle for a modest total despite an anchoring knock from wicketkeeper batter Beth Mooney.
Australia had a shaky start to their innings as they lost Grace Harris (3) and Georgia Wareham (5) with just 18 runs on the board in three overs.
Following the early hiccup, stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath joined Mooney in the middle and launched a recovery.
The duo batted sensibly against a disciplined South African bowling attack and knitted an important 50-run partnership for the third wicket.
Nonkululeko Mlaba then provided a much-needed breakthrough to South Africa in the 13th over when she got rid of McGrath with a slower delivery.
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McGrath struck three boundaries on her way to a 33-ball 27.
Mooney then joined forces with veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry and propelled Australia close to the 100-run barrier before a direct hit from Marizanne Kapp drew curtains on her brilliant knock.
She remained the top-scorer for Australia with a 42-ball 44, laced up with two fours.
Perry then partnered with Phoebe Phoebe Litchfield and bolstered Australia’s total with a 35-run partnership, which culminated with the former’s dismissal on the final delivery of the innings.
Ellyse Perr scored a quick 31 off 23 balls, while Litchfield remained unbeaten on 16 off nine deliveries.
Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, picking up two wickets, while Marizanne Kapp.
South Africa will now face either West Indies or New Zealand in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, scheduled to take place on Sunday.
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