Kolkata : 6 times Women’s T20 World Cup champion Australia are set to face 2023 Runner Up South Africa in 1st Semi Final of ICC Women’s T20 WC 2024.
TIME :
7:30 PM IST
VENUE :
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CONDITIONS :
Teams winning the toss have chosen to bat first in five of the eight games played in Dubai during this tournament with the hot weather likely impacting the decision.
India’s 172-3 win against Sri Lanka remains the highest total at the venue although it has also produced a number of low-scoring encounters.
HEAD TO HEAD :
Australia have beaten South Africa in 9 of their 10 T20I encounters.
South Africa’s only win came in a bilateral T20 series in January.
FORM GUIDE :
AUSTRALIA :
Australia won 4 out of 4 matches in this tournament , defeating Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan, India and are placed top of the Group A.
SOUTH AFRICA :
Apart from the loss against England in 2nd Match, South Africa have won 3 out of 4 Matches against West Indies, Scotland, Bangladesh and are placed at 2nd in Group B.
Australia’s best result at T20 World Cups
Champions: 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023
South Africa’s best result at T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2023
Australia will miss their main captain Alyssa Healy in the semi final as she’s out due to injury that she suffered against Pakistan. In her absence,Tahila McGrath is the stand-in captain. However, even without her, they’re able to knock out India from the tournament.
Aussie star all rounder Ellyse Perry said that they’ll “stick to the same processes” and maintain their emotional consistency in the semifinal against South Africa.
Perry said Healy remains an “important leader” despite being out of action and her participation will be confirmed close to the match.
“The medical staff and the team are going to give her [Healy] every opportunity and possibility of playing tomorrow night,” Perry told reporters.
South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt it won’t be easy to erase the memories of previous season’s final where Aussies defeated the Proteas.
She said, “A lot has happened since then. We have had two wins against them earlier this year”.
“It gives a positive energy in the camp knowing that if we play our best cricket, they are beatable”, she added.
Wolvaardt urged her team to be “smart” in their bowling and try to control Australia’s scoring rate to stay in the game.
“It’s easy to get swept away by what Australia have achieved, but if we play a good game of cricket, we have the talent to beat them,” she said.
SQUADS :
South Africa : Wolvaardt (captain, wicketkeeper), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder (wicketkeeper), Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wicketkeeper), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon.
Australia : Healy (captain, wicketkeeper), Tahlia McGrath, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham.
