South Africa knocked defending champions Australia out of the T20 World Cup semi-final with a clinical eight-wicket victory, led by Anneke Bosch’s unbeaten 74.

In a stunning turn of events at the Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa defeated Australia by eight wickets to secure their place in the final, delivering one of the biggest upsets of the tournament in Dubai.

The defending champions, Australia, found themselves unable to defend their modest total of 134-5 as South Africa chased it down comfortably with 16 balls to spare. Anneke Bosch led the charge, smashing a remarkable 74* from 48 balls in a composed yet powerful display. Her innings included eight fours and one towering six, forming the backbone of South Africa’s successful pursuit.

The foundation for South Africa’s victory was laid by an excellent second-wicket partnership between Bosch and skipper Laura Wolvaardt. Wolvaardt played a crucial role, adding 42 runs off 37 balls, and together they stitched a 96-run stand that left Australia shell-shocked. Wolvaardt, beaming with pride, hailed the performance as “one of our biggest wins ever” in a post-match interview, recognising the significance of their achievement on such a grand stage.

Australia, known for their dominance in white-ball cricket, were visibly off-colour in their innings. After losing Grace Harris and Georgia Wareham early in the powerplay, opener Beth Mooney anchored their innings with a hard-fought 44 from 42 balls. But with a lack of significant partnerships and a sluggish middle overs period, the Australians struggled to accelerate, keeping their run rate barely above a run per ball.

Captain Tahlia McGrath laboured to 27 from 33 deliveries, and even late bursts from Ellyse Perry (31 off 23) and Phoebe Litchfield (16 off 9) couldn’t push Australia to a competitive total on a surface that seemed to favour the chasing team. South Africa’s disciplined bowling effort, led by Ayabonga Khaka (2-24), kept Australia’s batters on a tight leash throughout the innings.

In contrast, South Africa’s run chase got off to a much more positive start. They posted 43-1 in the powerplay, well ahead of Australia’s 35-2 at the same stage. Although opener Tazmin Brits were dismissed for 15, the platform had been set for Bosch and Wolvaardt to take control. Bosch, who had struggled for form earlier in the tournament, found her rhythm when it mattered most. Her previous high score in the competition had been just 25, making her unbeaten 74 all the more impressive and vindicating the selectors’ decision to keep her at number three in the batting order.

With the victory, South Africa reached their second consecutive T20 World Cup final, having also made it to the final on home soil in 2023. The win continues what has been a remarkable period for South African sport, as highlighted by cricket writer Firdose Moonda, who told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We are a country with very little financial resource compared to others like Australia, but we are punching so far above our weight.”

Australia’s early exit was a shock to many, as they were chasing an eighth final appearance in the tournament. The result marks the first time in either the T20 or ODI World Cup that a final will take place without Australia or England.

For South Africa, the win represents not just a sporting triumph but a moment of national pride, as they continue to defy expectations and bring hope to their diverse and passionate fan base. Sunday’s final, which will see South Africa face the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and West Indies, promises to be a historic occasion, regardless of the outcome.

South Africa’s success in the tournament so far, coupled with their resilience on the global stage, underscores their position as a rising force in women’s cricket. With Bosch and Wolvaardt in stellar form, South Africa now have their eyes firmly set on lifting the trophy for the first time.