Four-time champion Australia used its rich big-match experience to surpass a spirited South Africa by five runs in a rain-hit semifinal here on Thursday, setting up a title clash against first-timer India. This is Australia’s sixth successive final out of the seven editions held so far.
There were fears that the second semifinal between Australia and South Africa at the SCG too will be washed out like the India and England match earlier in the day. But the weather improved just enough to get a game albeit a curtailed one.
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Australia skipper Meg Lanning led from the front with unbeaten 49 off as many balls to take her team to 134 for five in 20 overs. Rain returned during the innings break and South Africa was set a revised target of 98 runs in 13 overs as per the DLS method.
South Africa ended at 92 for five despite a fighting 41 not out off 27 balls from Laura Wolvaardt. South Africa was reeling at 24 for three before Wolvaardt and Sune Luus (21) brought their team back in the game with a quickfire 47-run stand. Wolvaardt, who smashed three sixes and two fours, had too much to do on her own.
Host Australia, which did not have the services of injured star allrounder Elysse Perry, was ecstatic after Jess Jonassen was able to defend 19 runs in the final over with South Africa getting only 13.
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Extremely tense
“It was extremely tense. Even in the last couple of balls it just wasn’t safe. They needed 19 off the last over and we knew we had to nail it. But that’s T20 cricket for you,” said skipper Lanning.
On the final against India, she added: “India are a class side, they have been playing excellent cricket. We are going to have to play really well. We have been improving each day, it hasn’t been an easy road.
“We wanted to give ourselves a chance of playing in the finals, and now we just need to enjoy ourselves. We are travelling to Melbourne tomorrow, train on Saturday and play on Sunday. I doubt there’d be much sleep happening tonight.”
South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk said her team tried its best. “... we have to give credit to Australia for the way they bowled and we just came six short.”