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South Africa pulled off an upset, knocking out six-time champions Australia to advance to the final of the . 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.
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.
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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 secon🍸d 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!
— Arjun Jain (@arjjain)
Sometimes, you just need to have your bad game in the group stage. South Africa did, Australia didn't
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1)
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 morꩲe runs thanꦡ her in this edition
Veryꦍ much like the young Meg Lanning was as captain🔥
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17)
A true captains knock in a crunch match… Laura Wolvaardt everybody 🙏🏾
— Levi Dikotla (@BlaQMaN_Levi)
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.
Congratu𝄹lations to South Africa for an incredible w🐟in!
— Carrom Ball (@carrom_ball)
SOUTH A꧙FRICA ARE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL, AGAIN!!!!💖! 🎉
The defending champions, Australia are🌟 KNOCKED OUT!ꦗ!!!
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
Well done team South Africa for beating Australia in a enroute to the f💫inal 🔥🔥🔥🇿🇦
&mdas✱h; Ricardo Mꦫackenzie MPP🇿🇦 (@ricardomackenzi)
South Africa beating Austr𝕴alia in a semi-final of a wo🙈rld cup in cricket.
The day has finally arrived.
— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango)
VICTORY fo﷽r the Proteas Women and through ﷽to the FINAL🏆🏏🇿🇦
What an unforgettable performance as the Proteas Women take down Auꦿstralia in the semi-final by 8 🉐wickets!
With heart, skill, and pure dedication!
We Are ! 💪🔥FOR ME. FOR HER. FOR THEM.…
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA)
A win for the 💞ages, SA Women knock Australia out of the !
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 Austrꦫalia🔯n side beaten. Yeah…
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
Proper payback from South Africa for last year's heartbreak against Australia. Well done 🙌🏼
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh)
What a Victory for South Africa 👏
– Into the final 🙌
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ)
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.