Australia reached the semifinals of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup as they comfortably chased down the total set by South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Saturday, February 18.
After being asked to bat first by Australia skipper Meg Lanning, the home team enjoyed a solid start. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits added 54 runs for the opening wicket in 8.5 overs. But Wolvaardt got out for 19 on the last ball of the ninth over, and when Georgia Wareham sent back Brits, who top-scored with 45, and Chloe Tyron in the 12th over, the Proteas found themselves on the floor.
Captain Sune Luus and Nadine de Klerk formed a late partnership of 23 from 18 balls to drag South Africa to 124-6, but it wasn’t enough for the power-packed Aussie line-up.
Chasing 125 for victory, the defending champions faced some early jolts in form of Ellyse Perry, Lanning and Beth Mooney. But Tahlia McGrath (57 off 33) and the unbeaten Ashleigh Gardner (28 off 29) rebuilt the innings to see Australia over the finish line with 21 balls to spare.
Australia will likely face India in the first semifinal after their defeat to England earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, South Africa will hope that New Zealand beat Sri Lanka on Sunday and then register a win over Bangladesh on February 21 if they are to qualify for the knockouts.
