South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt bats during the Women's Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and India at Hagley Oval in Christchurc Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt called correctly at the toss, and surprisingly decided to let Australia have the first bat on the wicket in the high pressure match. Picture: Sanka Vidanagama/AFP
The Proteas won the toss and chose to bowl first in their Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt called correctly at the toss, and surprisingly decided to let Australia have the first bat on the wicket in the high pressure match.
South Africa did not make any changes from their team which beat Bangladesh in their final group match earlier this week.
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.
Australia, meanwhile, made an injury enforced change with regular captain Alyssa Healy ruled out. Taking over the reigns from Healy will be Tahlia McGrath with the skippering.
Heading into the clash, Wolvaardt said: "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.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
Australia: Grace Harris, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.