Summary

  • South Africa shock defending champions Australia to reach final

  • Proteas chase 135 in 17.2 overs to win by eight wickets

  • Australia struggle for fluency on slow pitch - Mooney top-scores with 44

  • Australia had won past three T20 World Cups and six of past seven

  • West Indies face New Zealand in second semi on Friday

  • Final will be first in women's T20 or 50-over to not feature one of Australia or England

  • Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary at top of page

  1. Goodbyepublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 17 October

    It's time to say farewell.

    Take a read of Ffion Wynne's report from this remarkable first semi-final, as South Africa beat the six-time champions Australia.

    We'll be back tomorrow for plenty of cricketing action - starting with England men's attempt to pull of an unlikely Test victory in Multan (06:00 BST).

    Then there's the second semi-final in this tournament, with New Zealand and West Indies facing off for the right to play today's victors (15:00 BST).

    And there's a new episode of the No Balls podcast to get you through the rest of this evening, with Alex Hartley and Kate Cross reviewing England's World Cup.

    See you tomorrow!

  2. Postpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 17 October

    Let's relive that winning moment one last time, shall we?

  3. Postpublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 17 October

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The England girls are absolutely gutted to be on the plane home already but to see their arch-nemesis knocked out it will probably make it feel even worse. It certainly won't help.

    It is really amazing to see these results. It was a great interview from Laura Wolvaardt, she is such a calm character.

  4. 'Our biggest win ever'published at 18:10 British Summer Time 17 October

    South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt: "It is right up there with one of our biggest wins ever, the biggest win of my career for sure. It’s been such a good year for us and a real collective group effort.

    "Australia being the side that they are, you are just trying to find a weakness. We analysed them as a team and always prepare more when we face them and our bowlers did excellent to restrict them today.

    "It was such an amazing chase, we didn’t have the best first two overs. But Anneke [Bosch] batted superbly and played her role perfectly, she played one of the best innings of her career.

    "We know that whoever will be in the final can be destructive, but we look forward to it and the crowd here have been great behind us."

  5. Postpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 17 October

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It is a really great thing that none of Australia, England or India are left in the tournament.

    People were concerned that with the domestic structures underneath those three sides that the gap would get bigger, but in World Cup cricket it is literally about who turns up on the day.

    There is less to lose and they have freedom for the other sides. They have played braver cricket.

    Hopefully whoever wins this tournament leads to their board investing in their domestic structure. That is what we have to hope.

  6. Postpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 17 October

    The focus should be on South Africa right now... but a penny for England's thoughts.

    They beat South Africa by seven wickets in the group stage, but failed to make the semi-finals after losing to the West Indies.

    Having seen Australia dominate the tournament through the years, they must be kicking themselves that they've missed out on an Australia-less final.

  7. 'It's pretty hard to take'published at 18:03 British Summer Time 17 October

    Australia stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath: "It's pretty hard to take. We didn't show up tonight, you can't afford to do that in tournaments like this. Credit to South Africa.

    "We've had this World Cup in our minds for a long-time now, we were really well prepped, just didn't show up on the night.

    "We found it quite tricky, South Africa bowled really well, bowled stump line and took the pace off really well. They made it look like a totally different wicket, they batted really well.

    "Schutt has been huge for us at this tournament, she takes poles for fun. And with youngsters like Phoebs [Litchfield] and Bels [Sutherland] the future is certainly bright."

  8. Postpublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 17 October

    South Africa's Anneke Bosch: "My heart is racing a lot. It was quite tough out there. I was glad to finally contribute with some runs.

    "We just wanted to keep it simple and know with what we know works. I didn't want to try too many things and just play to how the conditions were playing what we know.

    "The speeches before the game really psych us up and keep us present and focus on what we need to do for the day.

    "It means a lot to reach our second successive final, I can't really describe it. We knew we were capable, we've had a good tournament and we were pretty confident. To restrict them to under 140 was really good by our bowlers.

    "Thanks to the fans for all the support. We can feel it."

  9. Postpublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 17 October

    Bosch walks off unbeaten to be greeted by a delighted South African dug-out.

    She's scored 74 from 48 balls to secure South Africa's progress to the final - a first win over Australia at a Women's T20 World Cup.

    Let's just remind ourselves of the scale of their achievement.

    Australia have reached the last seven finals, winning six of them - including the last three.

    The only other time the Southern Stars failed to make a final was at the first edition of the tournament in 2009, where England beat New Zealand.

  10. Postpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 17 October

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This does not happen! A shocking failure for Australia. But South Africa were brave, bold and brilliant in ways that Australia weren't.

  11. South Africa win by eight wicketspublished at 17.2 overs
    Breaking

    SA 135-2

    It's Bosch that finishes it!

    Megan Schutt offers up a full toss and Bosch dispatches it through mid-wicket for four.

    An incredible win for South Africa, knocking out the defending champions with relative ease.

  12. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 17 October

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This is where Australia are missing their skipper; they should not have been letting all of those singles get away. There seems to have been a lack of communication from the senior players of the Australia side.

  13. SA 131-2published at 17 overs

    4 needed from 18 balls

    Three more singles takes us to the end of the 17th over.

    That's Sutherland's day done - she's taken both Australian wickets, finishing on 2-26.

  14. Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 17 October

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    A remarkable shot, from a remarkable player who has not had credit for an innings like this before. We didn't think she had it in her.

  15. SA 128-2published at 16.2 overs

    Bosch takes South Africa within single figures of their target, timing Sutherland beautifully for a driven four past mid-off.

    That moves her to 68 from 43 - this is now her highest T20I score, passing her previous best of 67.

  16. SA 124-2published at 16 overs

    11 needed from 24 balls

    South Africa rather surprisingly send in Chloe Tryon at four - a finisher to finish the match?

    She has to wait for her chance with Bosch on strike for the first three balls, before the new batter fails to score from the final three balls of Molineux's over.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15 overs

    Wolvaardt c McGrath b Sutherland 42 (SA 121-2)

    Finally another South Africa wicket falls.

    Wolvaardt chips Sutherland's final delivery into the hands of Tahlia McGrath at mid-off, just trying to force it a little and the fielder doesn't have to move.

    The South African captain departs for 42 from 37, but has taken her side close to their target - they need 14 from 30 balls.

  18. SA 116-1published at 14 overs

    19 needed from 36 balls

    Australia bring on Tahlia McGrath late in the innings - the South African pair turn her around for six singles, while a couple of wides bring the chasing side a little closer to their target.

    This partnership is now worth 91 off 59 balls.

  19. Postpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 17 October

    Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Anneke BoschImage source, Getty Images

    Anneke Bosch is playing the innings of her life. This is astounding batting from South Africa; it will take something remarkable now for them to not make the final.

  20. SA 108-1published at 13 overs

    27 needed from 42 balls

    Anneke Bosch is flying here!

    She sweeps Gardner for her own four out to square leg, taking South Africa past the hundred mark, then brings up her half-century from 31 balls with a drive for two into the covers.

    Not finished there, she follows that up by unleashing another reverse sweep for four down at third.

    15 from the over, and South Africa are in sight of their target.