Anneke Bosch stars as Proteas Women stun Australia to reach T20 World Cup final

The Proteas had never defeated the Australian women's team in a T20 World Cup match before, including last year's final in Cape Town.

Chasing a target of 135 runs, the South African team scored 135/2, reaching the target comfortably in the 18th over.

Anneke Bosch was the star of the show as she hit her fifth T20 International half-century, finishing with a career-best 74 not out off 48 balls, partnering with Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt in a 96-run stand for the second wicket, with Wolvaardt contributing 42 runs off 37 balls.

After winning the toss and opting to field, South Africa quickly put the Australian batters on the back foot, taking two wickets and limiting their top order to just 35 runs in the powerplay.

Australia stabilized their innings with a 50-run partnership between Beth Mooney and captain Tahlia McGrath for the third wicket. However, McGrath was dismissed by spinner Nokululeko Mlaba in the 13th over for 27 runs, and Mooney was run out by Marizanne Kapp in the 17th over after scoring 44 off 42 balls. The Proteas' bowling attack continued to contain their opposition effectively.

Ellyse Perry added 31 runs, while Phoebe Litchfield finished with 16 not out, leading Australia to a total of 134/5.

In their chase, South Africa started slowly, managing just four runs in the first two overs. However, Wolvaardt's two fours and a six from Tazmin Brits (15) helped the team recover, scoring 21 runs in the next two overs off Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner.

Brits fell early in the fifth over, bowled by Annabel Sutherland after failing to move her feet, leaving South Africa at 25/1. This brought Bosch to the crease, and she quickly initiated an assault. Wolvaardt launched Sutherland over midwicket for four, while Bosch struck back-to-back boundaries off Sophie Molineux, bringing the score to 43/1 at the end of the powerplay - the highest total against Australia in this World Cup.

Wolvaardt hit a stunning six over long-on off Darcie Brown, followed by a four from Bosch off Georgia Wareham, allowing South Africa to take 10 runs off the next two overs. The scoring rate slowed slightly, reaching 74/1 at the halfway mark.

Bosch unleashed her aggression in the 12th over, slog sweeping for a four and sending a six over deep midwicket off Wareham, accumulating 12 runs. She followed this with a boundary and two more off Gardner, reaching her half-century and pushing the Proteas past the 100-run mark.

Australia finally found a breakthrough at the end of the 15th over when Wolvaardt attempted to hit Sutherland over mid-off but offered an easy catch to captain Tahlia McGrath, leaving the score at 121/2. However, it was too little, too late, as Bosch and Chloe Tryon (1 not out) comfortably guided the South Africans to victory.

READ MORE: Black Caps bowl out hosts India for record low 46 on opening day