The Momentum Proteas have earned their place in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup! They earned their place in the final four following an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the final group match of the tournament at Newlands.
Going into the game, the Proteas’ future in the tournament was solely dependent on the result at Newlands on Tuesday night. Win and leapfrog Sri Lanka and New Zealand on the Group 1 log. Lose, and end the tournament on home soil prematurely.
Bangladesh won the toss and wanted to bat first
Being asked to bowl first, the Proteas started strong. The bowling was tight, and unlike their first couple of group round matches, all the bowlers contributed with tidy economy rates.
The most expensive spell came from Nadine de Klerk, who went for 7.5 in her two overs. The most economical was, unsurprisingly, Marizanne Kapp, who went for 4.25 in her four.
That impressive bowling effort helped restrict Bangladesh to 113 for 6 – their second-lowest total of the tournament. The lowest came against Australia in their second match of the tournament, where they were held to 107 for 7.
The Protea chase – slow, but steady
The Proteas chase started slow. They scored at just over two an over, at an ask of six, in the first couple of overs. Openers, Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt struggled to initially hit the gaps. However, when they stated to find those holes in the field, they were nearly impossible to contain.
Both Brits and Wolvaardt would pass the half-century mark en route to victory. Wolvaardt would have the honour of hitting the winning runs at her home ground, ending the innings unbeaten on 66 off 56 deliveries.
Brits would also carry her bat, getting to 50 off 51.
On to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Semifinals!
Now the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup gets serious. Four teams have progressed to the semifinals and will fight it out for the two spots in Sunday’s final.
The defending champions, Australia will meet India at Newlands on Thursday in the first semifinal.
The Momentum Proteas will face England in the second ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal on Friday. Both matches start at 15h00.
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