AUS W VS SA W T20

Well, a few months ago, the Men's team from the African nation reached the World Cup final, but lost to India. Can the Eves go one step further and become the first South African team to ever win a World Cup in any format? Whom will they face on Sunday? That will be decided by the clash between West Indies and New Zealand in Sharjah, for the second semifinal. The first ball will be bowled at 2 pm GMT but we will be in well in advance, with all the prematch buildup. In the meanwhile, you can catch all the different updates from Men's cricket in Tests and T20Is. Do browse our tabs and click on the respective matchcentres to follow the action. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Stop the press. 8 T20 World Cups in the Women's format from 2009-2023. Australia Women have been in 7 finals and won 6 of those. Prior to this match, they were knocked out in the semifinal in the inaugural edition, in 2009, by England. 15 years later, that day has come again. As McGrath mentioned in her interview, it is nothing less than a shock to them because Australia Women and World Cups are like bread and butter. Daily stuff for them! But this is what happens when an era ends. Meg Lanning's retirement has forced them to dig deep into their roots and they are still searching for answers to their future. They still are a strong side, but not as dominant as they were, when Lanning was at the realm.

Victorious South Africa Women skipper, LAURA WOLVAARDT, is all smiles. Calls this win as probably their best ever win against any opposition in any format. Praises her team for bowling very well and restricting Australia to a below-par total. Calls it a collective group effort and thanks the support staff for analyzing Australia's weakness. Is glad that those plans came out well in this game. Admits that her team did not start the run chase well in the first couple of overs but then mentions that Tazmin Brits decided to get going and it came off. Is not too sure whom she wants to meet in the final, as she feels that both West Indies and New Zealand could be dangerous on their day.

Australian skipper, TAHLIA MCGRATH, says that this defeat is a hard thing to take and they are shocked. But credits South Africa for playing their best cricket and agrees that Australia were not at their best. Does not want to point any fingers at training saying that they did not leave any stone unturned but rather, did not play well in this game. Praises South Africa for bowling really well and not allowing them easy runs. Feels that maybe, 150 could have been a par score but they fell short. Details that the Aussie bowlers tried to keep it simple on the wicket but could not be consistent and got punished. Details that they kept thinking that they need just a couple of wickets but they never came. Heaps words of praises on Annabel Sutherland for her continued rise. Does not want to think about the next T20 World Cup in 2026 right now but rather, focus on the big summer coming up at home, hoping to do well there.

ANNEKE BOSCH HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her unbeaten 74 (48). Smiles and says that her heart is racing. Is happy to be finally able to contibute in a South African win. On the chat with her skipper during their partnership, Bosch says that the chat was not to take risks early on and not do anything silly. Just play onto the merit of the ball. On not having beaten Australia too many times in the past, AB says that the talk did come in the dressing room on the previous night but the group just looked to keep it out of their minds. Anneke says that they knew they were confident and were capable to chase down 135. To be able to restrict Australia to 134 is a great work by her bowlers, she notes. On taking an excellent catch in the field to dismiss Grace Harris, Anneke Bosch just brushes it off, happy to have taken the catch. Thanks the millions of supporters back home for keeping on supporting the team through difficult times.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, South Africa Women won an important toss and chose to bowl. Their bowlers made full use of the pitch and kept choking Australia for runs, conceding just 11 fours in all, without a single six. Australia Women tried to weather the conditions but barring a late flourish which got them 31 in the last 3 overs, they literally struggled to get the ball off the blocks. Beth Mooney huffed and puffed her way to 44 but for a batting lineup that strong, not to hit a single six was indeed shocking. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Lost the toss, lost the match? One might feel so, especially in Dubai. In the first innings, South Africa got swing, seam movement and plenty of turn, with the ball stopping on the batters as well. But come the run chase, the ball barely swung, barely moved off the seam, turned a bit and skid onto the bat under the lights. Australia Women did not get any help from the conditions and all they could do is try and be disciplined. They tried to do that but with the pitch not aiding them, hopes started fading quickly. No one had any bad bowling figures as such but Annabel Sutherland managed to pick up a couple of wickets.

Normally, when South Africa take the field in a World Cup knockout match, the 'C' factor is talked about a lot. And again, we saw that 'C' factor come out. But in a different meaning. It was not a choke. It was total command as they just brushed aside the challenge. Chasing a moderate total of 135, South Africa came out positively. They lost Tazmin Brits early but after that, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch did not give an inch to the Aussies. A couple of close calls went their way, with the balls landing short of the fielders but other than that, the 96-run stand for the second wicket just deflated the defending champions. Anneke Bosch stayed on till the end and made sure she hit the winning runs, after losing her skipper with a few runs needed for the chase.

Laura Wolvaardt is all smiles in the South African dugout as the entire team shakes hands. But Anneke Bosch and Chloe Tryon are celebrating in the middle. They hug each other and now, they shake hands with the defending champions. There is still a game to go but this could be the year where South Africa clinch their first ever World Cup, in any format, across genders.

Fortress Australia has been breached. And it is not by India. Nor by England. But, by an unexpected South African force. Coming into this contest facing a side which had won 15 matches on the trot in T20 World Cups, the Protea Women turned out with full fire as they have not only defeated Australia, but crushed them with aplomb!

FOUR! SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN ARE THROUGH TO THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE T20 WORLD CUP FINAL! A length ball, around off, Anneke Bosch goes back and drags the pull shot through mid-wicket. Deep mid-wicket runs to her right but cannot get there! SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 16 BALLS TO SPARE!

Megan Schutt to bowl her final over of the World Cup. A slower ball, outside off, Anneke Bosch gives herself a tiny bit of room to the leg side and cuts but finds point.

Punched to cover to get a single. Annabel Sutherland finishes with a respectable 4-0-26-2 but it was just too much to ask of her or anyone to try and defend an under par total.

Very full, outside off, Anneke Bosch drives it straight back to the bowler.

A short ball, outside off, Chloe Tryon pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Around off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. One hit away now, are the Protea Women!