South Africa pulled off an upset, knocking out six-time champions Australia to advance to the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. In a high-stakes match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (October 17), the Proteas triumphed by eight wickets, avenging their loss in the 2023 final. Australia, missing their captain Alyssa Healy due to a foot injury, struggled to assert dominance as South Africa ended Australia’s 15-match winning streak in the tournament, recording their first-ever victory over the Aussies in the Women’s T20 World Cup across eight meetings.
Australia’s innings: Resilient Beth Mooney and aggressive Ellyse Perry
After being put into bat, Australia managed to post a competitive total of 134/5. The Aussies were unsettled early by Ayobonga Khaka, who dismissed Grace Harris for just 3. Georgia Wareham followed shortly after, leaving Australia in a precarious position. However, resilient Beth Mooney (44 off 42 balls) and Tahlia McGrath (27 off 29 balls) stabilized the innings with a 50-run stand for the third wicket. Mooney held the innings together before being run out in the 17th over.
Ellyse Perry injected some late aggression, smashing 31 off 23 balls, giving the Aussies a much-needed boost. Phoebe Litchfield chipped in with a quickfire 16 off 9 balls, but Australia couldn’t accelerate as much as they would have liked. Khaka was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for 24 runs in her 4 overs, while Nonkululeko Mlaba and Marizanne Kapp also chipped in with key wickets.
Also READ: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Semifinals: Broadcast, Live Streaming details – When and where to watch in India, Australia, South Africa, UK, USA & other countries
South Africa’s chase: Steady Laura Wolvaardt and dominant Anneke Bosch
South Africa’s run chase started cautiously, with only four runs coming off the first two overs. Tazmin Brits struck a couple of boundaries to get things moving but was dismissed for 15 by Annabel Sutherland, who emerged as Australia’s best bowler with figures of 4-0-26-2. From there, steady Laura Wolvaardt (42 off 38 balls) and dominant Anneke Bosch (74 off 48 balls) took charge, building a commanding 96-run partnership for the second wicket.
Wolvaardt anchored the innings with well-timed strokes before becoming Sutherland’s second victim. Bosch, however, carried her bat through, playing a career-best knock to see South Africa home with 16 balls to spare. None of the Australian bowlers, aside from Sutherland, could contain the South African batters, with Megan Schutt and others failing to make an impact.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
South Africa Women’s team makes it to the finals of the Women’s World Cup T20 by defeating Australia!#WorldCup #T20 #CricketTwitter
— Arjun Jain (@arjjain) October 17, 2024
Sometimes, you just need to have your bad game in the group stage. South Africa did, Australia didn’t #AUSvSA
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) October 17, 2024
Laura Wolvaardt has really been a mighty fine leader for South Africa
Led the way by batting with much more intent and aggression and nobody has scored more runs than her in this edition
Very much like the young Meg Lanning was as captain#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) October 17, 2024
A true captains knock in a crunch match… Laura Wolvaardt everybody 🙏🏾 #ProteaFire
— Levi Dikotla (@BlaQMaN_Levi) October 17, 2024
Can’t believe Australia Women’s team is out of the World Cup! What a surprise!
But hats off to Anneke Bosch for her outstanding knock she showed class and resilience under pressure.
Congratulations to South Africa for an incredible win!
#AnnekeBosch #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/5AvEaNya5N
— Carrom Ball (@carrom_ball) October 17, 2024
SOUTH AFRICA ARE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL, AGAIN!!!!! 🎉
The defending champions, Australia are KNOCKED OUT!!!!#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/8lIfERW0V1
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) October 17, 2024
Well done team South Africa for beating Australia in a #T20WorldCup enroute to the final 🔥🔥🔥🇿🇦#HereForHer #AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt https://t.co/qnZ6svFLwF pic.twitter.com/MMHrmfkmta
— Ricardo Mackenzie MPP🇿🇦 (@ricardomackenzi) October 17, 2024
South Africa beating Australia in a semi-final of a world cup in cricket.
The day has finally arrived.
— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) October 17, 2024
VICTORY for the Proteas Women and through to the FINAL🏆🏏🇿🇦
What an unforgettable performance as the Proteas Women take down Australia in the #T20WorldCup semi-final by 8 wickets!
With heart, skill, and pure dedication!
We Are #ALWAYSRISING! 💪🔥FOR ME. FOR HER. FOR THEM.… pic.twitter.com/VatSJzhe1h
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 17, 2024
A win for the ages, SA Women knock Australia out of the #T20WorldCup!
South Africa lost a final to Australia last edition and now have handed them hammering they don’t often get.
As clinical and as professional a chase can be.
One of the strongest Australian side beaten. Yeah… pic.twitter.com/safUGC6cq8
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 17, 2024
Proper payback from South Africa for last year’s heartbreak against Australia. Well done 🙌🏼
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) October 17, 2024
What a Victory for South Africa 👏
– Into the final 🙌#women #cricket #AUSvSA #T20WorldCup #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/HIPIXbpqIw
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) October 17, 2024
