Australia Vs South Africa Highlights, ICC Women's T20 WC 2024 Semi-Final: SA-W Stun AUS-W By 8 Wickets To Reach Summit Clash

The Australia-W Vs South Africa-W, Women's T20 World Cup 2024 1st semi-final will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India and will be live-streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India. (Scorecard)

South Africa Women Squad: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta(w), Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Ayanda Hlub🎶i, Mieke de Ridder

Australia Women Squad: Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Ware❀ham, Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Annabel Sutherland, Megan Schutt, Kim Garth, Alana King, Tayla Vlaeminck, Darcie Brown.

South A❀frica are no match for Australia who have won nine out of the 10 WT20I games, with the former's only win coming in January this year. The head-to-head record at the Women's T20 World Cup is even 🔯more intimidating as Australia have won all seven encounters.

South Arica captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to field first in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 first semi-final m﷽atch aga﷽inst Australai on Thursday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Australia Women (Playing XI): Grace Harris, Beth Mooney(w), Tahlia McGrath(c), Ellyse Perry, Ashlei🦋gh Gardner, Phoebe Lit🧔chfield, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

South Africa Women (Playing XI): Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosꦫch, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta(w), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

And the thrill begins! From Australia Grace﷽ Harris and Mooney takes the crease. South Africa's Marizan🌳ne Kapp opens the attack.

AUS-W: 2/0 (0.3)

Just in the second over of the game, we’re treated to a breathtaking catch by Bosch! Yabonga Kh𒐪aka enters the scene and strikes immediately, sending Grace Harris packing for just 3 runs off 5 balls with her very first delivery. Now, Georgia Wareham, a right-handed dynamo, steps up ꦬto the crease.

AUS-W:8/1 (1.4)

Here comes another over—and another wicket! Kapp strikes, dismissing Wareham, caught brilliantly by Sinalo Jafta! After a shout for caught behind, SA ask for review. UltraEdge reveals a spike as the ball passes close to the bat. The original call is overturned, and Wareham is out for 5 runs off 9 balls.

Now Tahlia McGrath, right handed bat, comeꦰs to the crease.

AUS-W: 20/2 (3.2)

The powerplay concludes with Australia at a modest 27, having lost two key batters at the hands ♈of Khaka and Kapp. The defending champions face a serious moment now in building their innings—will they stage a comeback later, or are the Proteas set to fulfil their dreams and defy the odds? It’s all on the line

AUS-W: 27/2 (5)

The last threeౠ overs yield just 9 runs from the Australiaꦿn batters. Alyssa Healy’s side needs to rediscover the aggressive pace they showcased earlier this season if they want to turn things around!

AUS-W: 44/2 (9)

That wicket marks Mlaba's 10th of the tournament! Australia may have stabilized their innings a little bi𓂃t, but then Mlaba steps to shine. She delivers to and gets McGrath out for 27 runs off 33 balls, caught by Annerie Dercksen at backward point. Ellyse Perry, the seasoned right-hander, now takes her bat to🧔 the crease. Can she make a difference?

AUS-W: 71/3 (12.5)

As we head into the death overs, Australia aims to set a target of at least 120+🍌 runs, but they'll have to do so without Mooney, who departs with a solid 44 runs off 42 balls. Kapp claims her second wick𝔍et with a run-out, as the original decision is confirmed after review. Now, left-handed batter Phoebe Litchfield comes to the crease.

AUS-W: 103/4 (17)

Just as we anticipated a comeback, Australia remain steadfast, 🦋just as they have been a𒉰lways. Perry contributes with two boundaries, scoring 22 off 31 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield adds 16 off 9 balls. Together, they stabilize the innings, pushing the score to 130+.

However, in the very last ꧋ball, Ayabonga Khaka makes a fall, dismissing Perry, caught by Tazmin Brits💛!

AUS-W: 134/5 (20)

The second innings begins! South Africa’s top openers, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, take their positions at the crease as Australia’s star bowler, Megan Schutt, opens the attack. The Proteas Women must chase down a 135-run target to m🐼ake history🐟 today!

RSA-W:2/0 (1)

South African women aim to make history today, but it's definitely not coming easy. Th🍨e powerplay finally🦋 sees a breakthrough for Australia as Sutherland bowls Tazmin Brits for 15 runs off 15 balls.

Now at the crease, An🐲neke Bosch has 13 runs off 10 balls with two boundꦫaries, while Laura Wolvaardt is on fire, adding two more boundaries to the total!

RSA-W: 53/1 (7)

It’s not a stellar bowling performance from the six-time champions today, while the Proteas Women are simply on fire! Remember that stunninဣg six by Laura 32 runs off 28 balls and the three boundaries from Bosch (45 off 29 balls)? They’re making an incredible run in their chase. Australia will need to summon another comeback, just like they did in the first innings!

South African women need 42 runs in 48 balls.

RSA-W: 81/1 (11)

Sutherland claims her second wicket as Proteas captain Wolvaardt departs, caught by McGrath for 4🧔2 runs off 37 balls, including three fours and one six. At💞 121/2 in 14.6 overs, Wolvaardt has been a key player since the start, affirming South Africa's strong position in the chase!

South Africa Women need 11 runs in 24 balls.

RSA-W:121/2 (15)

We just witnessed history being crea🦩ted at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 17, 2024. For the first time, South Africa Women have reached the final of the Women's T20 World Cup! This marks their second victory against six-time champions Australia in their T20 encounters.

RSA-W: 135/2 (17.2)

Anneke Bosch earned the Player of the Match honor for her 48 ball 74 that sealed victory in the most crucial match of the South Africa women's cricket ♐team.

In the post match interview, the South African batter said, "My heart is racing a lot, it was tough out there, glad we got past the line. I'm happy to have contributed some runs. Just keep scoring those runs, play with the conditions around and stick to what you do best (on the chat with Wolvaardt). His speeches before the game helps us focus on the game (On Paul Adams, the coach). It means a lot,can't really describe, we knew we were capable, had a pretty good tournament coming into the game. Our bats, Taz (Brits) and Laura (Wolvaardt) have been incredible, the bowlers have been superb right through the tournament and to restrict them for under 140 tonight was outstanding. Thanks to all the support from our fans, we had plenty of them last time around (when they hosted the tournament in 2023), but they've stood by us and keep supporting us going ahead to the final."

This remarkable victory of South Africa women not only marks their first-ever appearance in a final bu🅘t also ends Austඣralia’s reign, making it the first time since the inaugural 2009 edition that they won’t compete for the title.

Also, Australia Women’s streak of 15 consecutive wins💝 in the Women’s T20 World Cup came to an end today.

This is the highest successful target chased by 𝓰South Africa women.

Now the S♋outh Africa will either face West Indies or New Zealand in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 final match on October 20, Sunday.