ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020: Australia hold nerve against South Africa to reach another final
Australia Women's Team. (Image Source: Twitter)

Keeping their fi♔ngers crossed watching the English team getting knocked out due to rains, Australia took on grouꦐp table-toppers South Africa for the all-important semi-finals clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), on Thursday.

South Africa won the to🔴ss and opted to bowl, keeping an eye on the DLS method taking charge later 𒉰in the match.

Openers Beth Mooney and Allysa Healy started the Australian proceedings in their trademark aggr꧃essive fashion. With 34 on the board, the hosts lost their first 🌱wicket during fifth over in the form of Healy (18 off 13).

The plot changed once Nadine de Klerk was handed the ball as she first dislodged the solid-looking partnership between Mooney (28 off 24) and Lanning𝄹.

De Klerk then too♑k the prized scalp of Ashleigh Gardner on the knot, and then removed Rachel Haynes out of the equation, before completing her spell (3/14).

From 68-1, the defending champions 🍒were left tottering at 71-4. Lanning’s unbeaten run-a-ball 49 then consolidated the Australian innings.

Her captain’s knock enabled the Australian team to post a t♔𝔉ricky total of 134. Lanning’s inning comprised of four boundaries and a maximum. She was later adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’ for her hearty effort.

As expected, rains hit the SCG bef🌊ore play resumed in the second half. After an hour’s delay, South Africa had to chase down a revised total of 98 runs in 13 overs.

Coming out to bat, openers Lizelle Lee and c🐻aptain Dane Van Niekerk started on a positive tone. The duo added 20 run🦩s within the third over, before Sophie Molineux took the first South African wicket.

Captain Van Niekerk soon perished to an🐼 incoming delivery from Megan Schutt. Diles🙈sa Kimmence at the other end, dismissed Mignon du Preez in the next over to reduce South Africa to 26-3, by the end of the fifth over.

The rear-guard action was taken by Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt who took the game deep with their pivotal partnership of 47.
It was Schutt yet again who provided the breakthrough for Australia,✤ with the wicket of Luus. Decisive death bowling turned out to be the difference between the two sides as Schutt and Kimmence made South Africa bottle ꦉunder pressure.

With 19 required off the final over, Laura Wolvaardt (47*off 27 balls) almost took her side to the finals. Spinner Jess Jonassen held her nerves, even after concedin🍸g 13 in the last over, to take Australia to yet another final in the competition.

Subscribe to to watch Exclusive Interviews, Podcasts, Weekly News Updates & Explainers.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Australia Meg Lanning Megan Schutt ODI World Cup South Africa T20 Women Cricket

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
betvisa68.com provides Latest Cricket News, Live Scores, Schedule, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, Dream11 Team, Results, ICC Rankings, Stats & Videos. Write to us at contact@betvisa68.com.