An excellent unbeaten 74 from Anneke Bosch fired South Africa into the ultimate of the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024 and ended Australia’s reign after three successive titles.
Afine bowling show from the Proteas restricted the defending champions to 134 for 5, Beth Mooney top-scoring with 44.
Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp have been the star bowlers for South Africa, Khaka taking two for twenty-four, whereas Kapp completed her 4 overs with figures of 1 for twenty-four, in addition to the run-out of Mooney.
Because of 31 runs from the final three overs, Australia’s complete appeared aggressive, however a 96-run stand between Bosch and Laura Wolvaardt (42) for the second wicket quickly had South Africa in complete management.
Whereas Wolvaardt departed, Bosch made positive there was no late wobble, seeing out the eight-wicket victory for the Proteas.
So, a yr on from being denied within the closing on dwelling soil by Australia, South Africa exacted their revenge to safe their place on the huge dance for the second match operating, the place they are going to tackle the winner of West Indies v New Zealand.
Having gained the toss, South Africa put Australia in to bat and made quick inroads as Grace Harris slashed the ball straight to Bosch off Khaka’s very first supply, departing for 3 within the second over.
Georgia Wareham then fell caught behind off Kapp for 5, leaving the defending champions in a spot of trouble at 18 for 2 after three overs.
That introduced skipper Tahlia McGrath to the crease alongside Mooney, and the pair placed on precisely 50 in just below 10 overs, preserving the strike fee ticking over however struggling to the discover the boundaries.
McGrath hit a few boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba’s first over, however Australia have been nonetheless solely 35 for 2 on the finish of their powerplay, their lowest rating after six overs within the match to this point.
With runs proving onerous to come back again, Australia handed 50 within the tenth over, earlier than McGrath fell to Mlaba for 27, mistiming a slower supply straight to Annerie Dercksen.
Even the arrival of Perry didn’t sign extra boundaries, however she and Mooney ran properly between the wickets in a 31-run stand that ended when Mooney was run out by some good work from Kapp, off her personal bowling.
The opener had nearly accomplished sufficient to get again into her crease after realising the short single was not on, however Kapp’s throw hit the stumps with Mooney’s bat nonetheless within the air as she dived.
That introduced Phoebe Litchfield to the crease and he or she confirmed her intent from the off, driving Kapp by way of level for 4 off her very first ball to carry up the hundred.
She added two extra from Mlaba’s closing two deliveries as Australia upped the tempo within the closing overs.
Perry appeared to do the identical, and was given a life when Tamzin Brits dropped her within the deep within the penultimate over, that error instantly punished by a crunching drive by way of further cowl for 4.
Khaka returned for the ultimate over, with Perry discovering the boundary yet one more time earlier than Brits earned a measure of revenge as she held on at deep midwicket off the ultimate supply to go away Australia on 134 for 5 from their 20 overs.
In reply, Australia put the clamps on within the first couple of overs earlier than two Brits boundaries helped spark the chase.
She smashed Ashleigh Gardner for six however was then cleaned up by Annabel Sutherland’s first ball for 15, leaving South Africa 25 for one.
With Bosch becoming a member of skipper Wolvaardt within the center, the pair took an attacking strategy to the chase, a shocking six from the captain off Darcie Brown mentioning the half-century within the seventh over.
By midway, they have been 74 for one, needing simply 61 from 60 deliveries to tug off the win and avenge final yr’s closing.
The second it grew to become clear that Australia wouldn’t come again got here within the twelfth over, as Bosch smashed Wareham for 4 by way of deep midwicket earlier than repeating the trick for six the next ball.
With Wolvaardt then doing the identical to Gardner off the primary ball of the following over, the required fee began to drop like a stone. Bosch introduced up her half-century off simply 31 balls with Australia unable to seek out even an inkling of a possibility.
When the wicket lastly got here, the outcome was already within the bag, Wolvaardt choosing out McGrath off Sutherland for 42 simply in need of the century partnership.
By that stage, simply 14 have been wanted from 5 overs and Bosch stored her foot on the fuel to see South Africa dwelling with 16 balls to spare because of her 48-ball 74.
Australia v South Africa, Dubai Worldwide Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Australia 134/5 from 20 overs (Beth Mooney 44, Ellyse Perry 31; Ayabonga Khaka 2/24, Marizanne Kapp 1/24)
South Africa 135/2 from 17.2 overs (Anneke Bosch 74 not out, Laura Wolvaardt 42; Annabel Sutherland 2/26)
End result: South Africa win by eight wickets
