ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Semi-Final 1: Australia has continued maintaining their unbeaten status in the T20 World Cup as they have won all four of their matches so far. In the last game, they almost performed a thriller in order to win over India by nine runs. South Africa, which lost to England in the second game, is currently standing with a 3-1 record so far in the tournament.
Australia would be without the services of its captain Alyssa Healy who returned on crutches having injured her foot during the 37 she scored against Pakistan. Tahlia McGrath would lead the side while Ellyse Perry takes the field and Beth Mooney. Fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is out of the event due to an injury to her shoulder in her first T20 World Cup match since returning from again Pakistan. She has been replaced by Heather Graham in the playing XI, where Grace Harris and Darcie Brown also came into the playing XI against India.
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South Africa Stamping Authority
They had no issue with injuries and did not seem to want to tamper with their winning combination. South Africa has been struggling against Australia in T20Is: they have won only one out of ten; the first triumph came earlier this year in January 2023. This Thursday was the second play-off between the two against South Africa after that dramatic loss to them in the final of the 2023 T20 World Cup in Cape Town.
Tournament Stats
South Africa has played three games here in Dubai so far in this tournament while Australia had their first game here where they were playing against Pakistan. The average first-innings score for this tournament is 126; India scored the highest total of 172 against Sri Lanka last Wednesday.
Key Players To Watch Out
Megan Schutt
Megan Schutt was also an outstanding performer as Australia clinched the series. She bowled money spells in all four games they won. She posted strong figures of 3 for 12 while against Sri Lanka. Then she followed this up with 3 for 3 against New Zealand and 1 for 7 against Pakistan. The crucial over that she bowled in the 17th over against India came at a point in the match which eventually made a lot of difference.
Tazmin Brits
Tazmin Brits has been the top performer for South Africa, going well on every start she gets. She opened her tournament with a match-defending unbeaten 57 and has since scored over 40 in both of the last two matches she had. She was crucial to South Africa’s sole win against Australia earlier this year when she smacked 41 runs from 28 balls.
Standings
Australia is so far on the top position of this T20 World Cup losing no match of the four matches it has played so far. In its final group match, it defeated India by nine runs. South Africa won three out of the four games but the latter suffered a loss to England earlier in the tournament.
Time And Location
Location: Dubai, Time: 6 pm local time
Squads
Australia Squad: Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Tayla Vlaeminck (ruled out)
South Africa Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon
Also Read: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Semi-Finals Locked In With Venues And Timings, Watch Out!