ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2, Australia vs South Africa: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2, Australia vs South Africa: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Meg Lanning Dane van Niekerk Australia South Africa Women

Australia and South Africa will face off in the second semi-final of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This is South Africa’s second appearance in the top four (they had also made it in 2014), while Australia’s is an all-too-familiar experience.

South Africa are yet to lose a single match in the tournament. After clinching a thriller against England, they beat both Thailand and Pakistan before rain washed out their match against West Indies.

While they have a cohort of all-rounders in Dane van Niekerk, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, and if she plays, Nadine de Klerk, a lot of their success will depend on their fast bowlers, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, and Kapp.

Australia had lost Tayla Vlaeminck before the tournament had started; and now, just before the semi-finals, they have lost Ellyse Perry. They have made it to the final every single time in the last five editions (winning four of them); they also hold home advantage; but the twin blows have given South Africa a whiff of a chance.

Despite that, however, Australia will take field as firm favourites.

Head to head

The teams have met four times, all in the T20 World Cup, in 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2016. Australia have won on every single occasion.

Key players

Meg Lanning (Australia Women): Lanning demonstrated exactly why she is considered the finest batter of her generation when she lifted Australia from 10/3 against Sri Lanka. An encore of that will be needed against the South African pacers.

Dane van Niekerk (South Africa Women): Be it bat, ball, or leadership, there is little doubt that van Niekerk is the most important cricketer in this South African side. She will have to play a role in all disciplines if South Africa are to win here.

Likely XIs

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Molly Strano, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt.

South Africa Women: Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk (c), Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Prediction

Australia to make it to the final a sixth consecutive time.