On October 20, 2024, the Women’s World Cup will have have a final without Australia for the first time since the inaugural edition, in 2009. Australia won six of the first eight editions, but will not get a shot at the ninth. South Africa knocked them out of the competition with an eventually easy win with eight wickets and 16 balls in hand at the semi-final in Dubai.

Defending 135, Annabel Sutherland bowled Tazmin Brits for a run-a-ball 15, but Anneke Bosch (average 26, strike rate 107 before the match) strode out at one-drop to take the attack to the Australian camp. She drove and swept with panache, scoring runs all around the ground, reducing captain Laura Wolvaardt to a supporting role.

By the time Sutherland removed Wolvaardt for a 37-ball 42, the pair had added 96 – the highest partnership for any wicket against Australia in the ongoing World Cup – off only 67 balls. The wicket did not deter Bosch’s progress, who hit the winning runs, smashing Megan Schutt to the mid-wicket fence to finish unbeaten on a 48-ball 74. She was named the Player of the Match.

This was the first time South Africa beat Australia at the Women’s T20 World Cup, and the second time in all women’s T20 cricket.

Earlier, Wolvaardt had won the toss and opted to field. Australia became 18-2 in three overs before Beth Mooney (44 in 42 balls) and captain Tahlia McGrath (27 in 33) put up a resistance. They added 50, but took 55 balls in the process despite the side having one of the deepest batting line-ups in the history of the format.

Marizanne Kapp brilliantly ran out Mooney shortly afterwards before Ellyse Perry (31 not out in 23 balls) and Phoebe Litchfield (16 not out in 9) lifted Australia to 134-5. For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp had 1-24 and Ayabonga Khaka 2-24 from their four-over quotas.

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