While Australia will be massive favourites for their Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa on Thursday, Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt believes her side have the ability to overcome their opponents for the first time in a knockout game.
In fact, South Africa have only beaten Australia once in their 10 T20I meetings. That win though, came earlier this year against Australia on their home turf.
The semi-final which begins at 4pm on Thursday in Dubai, will also be a rematch of the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup final in Cape Town.
South Africa came up 19 runs short on that occasion, but this time it feels different heading into the clash.
United As One 🏏![CDATA[]]>🌍![CDATA[]]>📸
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 16, 2024
Every challenge, every game, we rise together. Now to conquer the semi-final on Thursday!
Let’s make history, Proteas Women! 💪![CDATA[]]>🖼️#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #T20WorldCup #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/RUnq3zwQ9A
‘Anything can happen’
"It’s easy to get swept up in Australia’s achievements, but at the end of the day, if we play a good game of cricket, I believe we have the talent to beat them. T20 cricket is a bit crazy sometimes, anything can happen, and we just need to keep our focus simple and on ourselves,” said Wolvaardt on Wednesday.
It’s been 18 months since that fateful T20 World Cup final between the countries, and the core of the Proteas team has remained the same while adding some new coaching staff like Paul Adams as a spin coach.
"We’ve had a year of experience and some changes in the team. Fresh faces and ideas, particularly with the new coaching staff, bringing a different energy. It’s been a bit of an up-and-down year, but I feel like we’ve hit our stride in this World Cup, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Confidence aside, Wolvaardt knows her troops have to be at their best to have a chance against Australia.
"Their depth is just incredible, and they’ve gone to (batter) eight and nine quite a few times. Tomorrow, it will be about controlling that run rate as much as we can and matching up smartly against their line-up.”