Dubai: A brilliant batting display by South Africa with opener Anneke Bosch’s unbeaten 74* runs powered the Proteas into the Women’s T20 World Cup Final by knocking out the defending champions Australia on Thurday. The final will be played in Dubai on Sunday.
The semifinal match was the repeat of the last summit clash in South Africa, but the result was different as the Proteas have taken revenge for their loss at home, when Australia won by 19 runs to lift their sixth title.
This is the first time in the history of 15 years of the sport that the ‘Women in Yellow’ have not reached the final of the competition (WT20 WC).
Coming to the final match, having restricted Australia to 134/5 in the first innings, South Africa’s top order put on a display of hitting under the lights of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (42 from 37) leading the way along with opening partner Tazim Brits (15 from 15). But it was Bosch who really knocked the stuffing out of the Aussie bowling attack, scoring fast in her 74* from 48 to get her team well ahead of the run rate, meaning there were few late nerves even when skipper Wolvaardt departed with 15 runs still required. And fittingly it was Bosch who hit the winning runs, sparking jubilant scenes among the South African contingent.
Ayabonga Khaka had the pick of the figures with her 2/24, while Marizanne Kapp also impressed, taking 1/24 and producing an inspired piece of fielding to remove Mooney. And South Africa’s inspired performances continued into the second innings, as they completed a famous upset.