Australia, The Four-times Champion reach Final Once Again:
Four-times champion Australia used their big-match experience and reached the ICC Women’s World Cup Final For the sixth time by surpassing South Africa. In a rain-hit semi-final, Australia beat South Africa by only five runs.
There were everyone’s concerns that, just like the semi-final match of India and England, the second Australia and South Africa semi-final also will be washed out. But the weather condition had improved a little bit to get a match even though a little one.
Australia captain Meg Lanning headed from the front and scored 49. In 20 overs, with the loss of five wickets, Australia had managed to score 134 runs. At the break time of the innings, the rain returned, and as per the D/L rule, South Africa got the revised target total of 98 runs in 13 overs.
Although Laura Wolvaardt scored unbeaten 41 out of 27 deliveries, South Africa ended their innings at 92 runs with the loss of five wickets.
At 24, South Africa already lost three wickets before Laura Wolvaardt, and Sune Luus brought the match back with a rapid 47-run stand.
Although all-rounder Elysse Perry was not playing in the Australia team because of her injury, they were overjoyed after Jess Jonassen could defend 19 runs in the last over with South Africa was able to get only 13.
With this winning of the semi-final match, Australia comes to their sixth time consecutive final among the seven editions.
Captain Lanning Statement:
In the post-match conference, captain Lanning said that “it was a tense situation. Even in the last balls, it was not safe. South Africa required 19 runs in the last over, and we knew that we have to secure it. But for you, it was T20 cricket”.
Regarding the final match against India, she said that “India is an excellent team, in this tournament they have played extremely well. It is necessary to play well against them. And for this each day we have been developing. And It wouldn’t be a very tough task for us”.
Dane van Niekerk Speech:
On the other hand, Dane van Niekerk, South Africa captain, said that they had tried their best to win the match. But the Australia pacers bowled extremely well & brought the game back, and we came just six runs short.
Also, she added that “it is really very tough to come short regularly and we are not a team which blames anyone or anything, but maybe it was not our day or not our year.”
