Bosch ends Australia eves dominance as South Africa reach World Cup final

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

Anneke Bosch smacked the fastest fifty of the tournament as South Africa defeated Australia by 8 wickets in the first semi-finals of ICC Women’s World Cup in Dubai on Thursday.

After restricting Australia to 134/5, South Africa achieved the target for the loss just two wickets with 16 balls to spare. With the victory,  they also ended Australia’s dominance in women's cricket. Australian eves have won the World Cup for a record six times.

This is only the second time in nine editions, Australia failed to reach the final. Last time Australia could not make it to the final was in 2009. They were beaten by the West Indies in the final in 2016 last time. Since then Australia have won all the titles.

This will be South Africa’s second appearance in the title showdown of the showpiece event after 2023. Bosch and skipper Laura Wolvaardt obliterated the fearsome Australian attack. They added 96 runs for the second wicket to put all the doubts to rest.

Bosch was in devastating form as she made the light work of ferocious Australian bowling attack. She smashed an unbeaten 74 off 48 balls with the help of eight fours and one six. This is the highest score by any batter in 2024 edition of the Women’s World Cup.

South Africa started their chase on a positive note. Both the openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave a blazing start to set the tone for a successful chase.

They added 25 runs for the first wicket in just four overs. South Africa made their intentions clear right from the word go. Sunderland gave Australia the first breakthrough by getting rid of Brits, who scored run-a-ball 15.

After the departure of Brits, the Australia heaved a sigh of relief as they were oblivious of the storm, which was about come. Wolvaardt was joined by Anneke Bosch. The duo took the bull by its horn and showed no signs of slowing down.

They tore apart the Australian bowling attack. Australian bowlers were unable to stop the flow of runs, leave alone taking the wickets. South Africa reached 43/1 at the end of sixth over,  amassing the most runs by any team against Australia in powerplay.

South Africa were looking set to achieve the target easily as both the batters scored the runs on their will. Australia needed a wicket to make a comeback into the match after being outclassed in all departments

But Australian bowlers had no answer for South African batters. They failed to contain them. Bosch was at her brutal best. She took 12 runs off the 12th over bowled by Wareham. Bosch hit Wareham for a six and a four on consecutive deliveries.

In the next over, Bosch plundered 15 runs off Gardner with the help of three boundaries and a couple. She brought up 100 for South Africa in just 12.3 balls with a boundary.

Bosch did not stop there as she raced to her fifty with a couple off the next delivery in just 31 balls. Wolvaardt failed to reach her fifty as she was dismissed for 42. She hit three fours and one six.

Earlier, South Africa made an impressive start as they sent back two Australian batter with only 18 runs on the board. Opener Grace Harris was taken by Bosch off Khaka as Australia lost their first wicket for seven runs.

After losing the first wicket early on the in the innings South Africa pushed Australia on the back foot. Kapp gave them second jolt when she got Georgia Wareham caught by wicketkeeper Jafta.

With two wickets down, the Australian needed a big partnership to set the tone for a big total. Beth Mooney and Tahila McGrath had different plans. They knuckle down to mend the faltering innings.

They played sensibly and kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles, hitting occasional boundaries. Both the batters added 50 runs for the third wicket and took the score to 68 to stabilise the innings.

They kept the South African bowlers at bay. South Africa needed a wicket desperately to thwart Australia from posting a big total. Mlaba provided South Africa the much-needed breakthrough by getting rid of McGrath.

Mlaba bowled a slower delivery outside the off stumps, so inviting the batter to play it over the covers. McGrath failed to adjust to the pace and handed a simple catch to Dercksen in the covers.

The dismissal of McGrath brought a relief in the South African camp. Mooney combined with Ellyse Perry and added 31 vitals runs for the fourth wicket.

But the duo consumed too many deliveries which dented Australia’s the run rate. Australia were looking set to reach 150 at one stage. But due to a slow batting between 12th to 17th over, their run rate dropped drastically.

Mooney, the who scored a 44-ball 42, was found short of her ground by Kapp off her bowling. Mooney’s dismissal turned out be a blessing in disguise for Australia. Perry and Phoebe Litchfield added a quick-fire 35 runs in just three overs.

Litchfield took the charge in her hands and started cutting loose. She played a blitzkrieg cameo of 9-ball 16 with the help of three boundaries to spur the run rate.

Perry also changed the gears as she tore apart the South African bowlers. She smashed a blazing 31 off 23 balls as the duo took the score to a fighting 135/5.