South Africa stunned defending champion Australia in the first semifinal of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, winning by eight wickets to reach its second straight final.

In a reversal from the 2023 final at Cape Town, South Africa chased down Australia’s 134-5 with 16 balls to spare. Six-time champion Australia had won three straight titles.

Anneke Bosch led the way with 74 not out off 48 balls, including eight fours and a six, as the Proteas finished with 135-2 in 17.2 overs.

She had support from skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who set the early pace with three fours and a six in scoring 42 off 37 balls.

Having beaten Australia for the first time in this tournament’s history, South Africa now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between West Indies and New Zealand in Sharjah on Friday.

The final will be played in Dubai on Sunday.

It ended Australia’s 15-match winning run in the tournament. Since 2009, it is only the second time in nine Women’s T20 World Cups that the six-time champions failed to make the final.

“It’s gonna be pretty hard to take. We just didn’t really show up tonight, and can’t afford to do that in tournaments like this,” Australia’s stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath said.

McGrath was skipper in the place of Australia’s star player and regular captain, Alyssa Healy, who suffered a foot injury earlier in the tournament.

South Africa had opted to bowl and made two vital early breakthroughs.

Opener Grace Harris was out caught for three off Ayabonga Khaka, while Georgia Wareham was caught off Marizanne Kapp for five runs.

Australia was down to 18-2 in the third over, but rescued by a 50-run partnership between Beth Mooney and McGrath.

Mooney top-scored with 44 off 42 balls, hitting two fours, and looked set to shepherd the innings to a competitive total.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba got the breakthrough — she dismissed McGrath in the 13th over for 27 off 33 balls.

The turning point came in the 17th over — Kapp ran out Mooney. Ellyse Perry scored 31 off 23 balls to take them past 100. But Australia failed to gather sufficient momentum in the final overs.

Annabel Sutherland provided the early wicket in the chase — she bowled Tazmin Brits for 15.

But Wolvaardt and Bosch seized initiative to put on 96 off 65 balls for the second wicket — South Africa’s highest partnership for any wicket against Australia in T20s.

Bosch brought up her 50 off 31 balls, and went on to score the tournament’s highest individual score.

Sutherland did get the breakthrough in the 15th over, but it was too little too late for the outgoing champions, who were thoroughly outplayed on the night.

Bosch was named player of the match for her unbeaten knock.

“My heart is racing. It was tough out there and I am just glad we got past the finish line. We knew we are capable and had a good tournament coming into this game. To restrict them under 140 tonight was outstanding,” she said.

Press Release, Source: AP News