Proteas openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits have been two of the stars of the Women’s T20 World Cup so far, so it would have been a nervous Anneke Bosch who strode to the wicket after Brits was bowled for 15 at the start of the fifth over.
South Africa had bowled magnificently to restrict the power-packed Australian line-up to 134/5, and memories of their 19-run defeat at the hands of the Aussies in the last World Cup final still burned bright. Add to that the fact that Bosch had scored just 18, 11 and 25 in her three matches in the tournament leading up to the semi-final… the 31-year-old was walking into a real pressure cooker.
“It hasn’t been the best tournament for me so far. My mindset today was different. If you come off a few bad games, you kind of feel it can’t get any worse, so you go at it, stay positive, score as quickly as you can and put the team in a good position. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t,” said Bosch in the post-match press conference.
“I think the mindset was a bit different for me, trying to score as much as we can to put the team forward, but it is good that we were able to adapt to the coaches requirements.
“Look, they are the best team in the world, they have won so many trophies and they are very difficult to beat. For us, coming into this game, we knew we had nothing to lose, and gave it our all, but after that win against them in a T20 match earlier in the year, that gave us great confidence coming to the semi-final.
“Our philosophy is to take the positive option, put teams under pressure, to not hold back and be fearless. Our mindset was to be positive, to not slow the rate down even when we were getting to run-a-ball, to not let it slip or let it get too difficult at the end.”
Bosch flew out the gates and started pounding the Australian attack from the start, but playing sensible attacking shots that displayed a masterful understanding of her art.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt played second fiddle to Bosch as she contributed 42 from 37 balls (3 fours, 1 six) in a vital support act that ensured Bosch had the confidence to keep taking the attack to the Australiams.
Wolvaardt lost her wicket shortly before the end after a 96-run second-wicket stand with Bosch that took them to the edge of victory. Bosch appropriately struck the winning runus, smashing a four over deep midwicket in the 18th over to end the innings of her life unbeaten on 74 off 58 deliveries, including 8 fours and a six.
Her innings ensured that the Proteas Women secured their place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final for the second consecutive year.
“Just incredibly proud of the team, the way we approached this World Cup and how we have played. I think we haven’t played our best game yet, but hopefully we will leave it for the final,” added Bosch.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Proteas Women made an ideal start. Ayabonga Khaka (2/24) struck early, dismissing Grace Harris (3) with a smart catch from Bosch at backward point. In the following over, Marizanne Kapp (1/24) removed Georgia Wareham (5), leaving Australia in trouble.
Australia finished the powerplay on 35/2, with Beth Mooney (44) and Tahlia McGrath (27) at the crease. Despite some tight bowling from South Africa, the experienced duo guided Australia to 53/2 by the halfway mark. McGrath and Mooney shared a 50-run partnership for the third wicket by the 12th over before Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/31), now the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in a Women’s T20 World Cup, dismissed McGrath in the 13th over.
With Mooney still anchoring the innings and joined by Ellyse Perry (31), South Africa kept Australia in check, restricting them to 86/3 with five overs left. Kapp then produced a moment of brilliance in the 17th over, running out Mooney and breaking Australia’s resistance. Phoebe Litchfield (16*) joined Perry at the crease, and the pair accelerated towards the end, adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket. Perry was dismissed on the final ball of the innings, as Australia finished on 134/5 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 135 to secure a second consecutive final appearance, South African openers Tazmin Brits (15) and Wolvaardt laid a solid foundation, reaching 25/0 after four overs before Annabel Sutherland (2/26) bowled Brits. Despite the setback, the Proteas reached 43/1 by the end of the powerplay, with Wolvaardt and Bosch finding the boundaries with ease.
The pair soon brought up a 50-run partnership after taking South Africa to 74/1 after 10 overs, with both batters in dominant form. Needing 61 runs from 60 deliveries, Wolvaardt and Bosch continued their assault, taking South Africa into triple figures. Bosch then celebrated her maiden T20 World Cup half-century, the fastest of the tournament so far.
At 121/1 in the 15th over, Sutherland claimed her second wicket by dismissing Wolvaardt to end the 96-run stand, with McGrath taking a simple catch. However, it was too little, too late for the Australians.
The Proteas Women will face the winners of the second semi-final between New Zealand and the West Indies in the final, scheduled for Sunday, 20 October at 18h00 local time (16h00 SAST) at the Dubai International Stadium.