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The Proteas reached their first-ever cricket World Cup final in any format, where the hosts will face Australia for the title.
Pacers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka shared seven wickets between them as South Africa staged a spectacular fight-back to stun England by six runs and enter their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final on Friday.
Openers Laura Wolvaardt (53) and Tazmin Britz (68) struck entertaining half-centuries to take South Africa to 164 for four in the second semifinal at Newlands.
The game went down to the wire thanks to the efforts of Ismail (3/27) and Khaka (4/29), who both came up with momentum changing overs. The 2009 champions England ended with 158 for eight in 20 overs.
It all came down to Shabnim Ismail’s final over, with England requiring 13 runs to win and they fell six runs short.
Sune Luus , Proteas skipper: I think we were out of it, in it again, out of it again and it just went in waves but I think we do have the best bowling attack in the world and I guess it was against the best batting attack against the world, I just don’t know what to say. We kept saying to them (openers) to be brave and back themselves, they made us extremely proud and that gave us the platform for Marizanne and everyone coming in. I hope this is really a turning point for not just women’s cricket in South Africa, but sport in general in South Africa, so I hope with one game to go we can keep doing that. The Newlands faithfuls turned up today, thank you guys for all your support. You guys are very special to us and it’s such an honour to play in front of friends and family and you guys have all become friends and family. Thank you and see you on Sunday.
It’s Australia v South Africa on Sunday – The ICC WOMEN’S World Cup final. 26 FEB 2023. The Proteas are through to the finals for the first time in their history.
