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. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 3 overs

    Wareham c Jafta b Kapp 5 (Aus 18-2)

    Gone!

    The faintest of spikes on ultra-edge sees Georgia Wareham depart for five. It's a loose shot, swinging hard to a very wide delivery that she could've probably left alone.

    Australia are under pressure early.

  2. SA reviewpublished at 3 overs

    Now then!

    Has Kapp responded perfectly? She is adamant that Georgia Wareham has edged one behind, setting off in celebration and keeper Sinalo Jafta is convinced too.

    The umpire is completely unmoved and Wareham doesn't flinch.

    This will be interesting.

  3. Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 17 October

    Firdose Moonda
    Cricinfo writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Marizanne Kapp is one of those players where a mistake such as a no-ball can affect her badly. She looked disgusted when she saw it was a no-ball and almost disbelieving of it.

  4. Aus 18-1published at 2.2 overs

    Georgia WarehamImage source, Getty Images

    Heaved out to deep square leg for four!

    With three coming from the first ball as well, plus the no-ball, this over is turning things around for Australia so far.

  5. Aus 14-1published at 2.1 overs

    Now that's something you don't see too often.

    Marizanne Kapp oversteps, resulting in a no-ball and a free-hit to Georgia Wareham.

  6. Aus 10-1published at 2 overs

    Cracking start from South Africa and Khaka, keeping the queeze on Georgia Wareham and Beth Mooney.

    Still no boundaries off the bat for Australia.

  7. Postpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 17 October

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

    That's a big one, the wicket of Grace Harris! Now, Australia have sent Georgia Wareham in at three which they tend to do if they lose an early wicket.

  8. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 1.1 overs

    Harris c Bosch b Khaka 3 (Aus 7-1)

    Ayabonga Khaka strikes first ball!

    Grace Harris slashes at a wide-ish delivery outside off stump and she can't believe the end result, with the ball landing safely in the hands of Anneke Bosch at point.

    It's a good catch, low to the ground, and South Africa have the all-important early breakthrough.

  9. Aus 7-0published at 1 over

    Grace HarrisImage source, Getty Images

    Harris gets herself and Australia off the mark with an ambitious ramp over her shoulder for a couple, before Kapp beats Mooney with a beauty that defeats everyone.

    It bounces just in front of keeper Sinalo Jafta and through her gloves, and those are four precious runs for Australia.

    You can't really afford to be giving them freebies.

  10. Postpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 17 October

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

    South Africa have got a perfectly good chance actually. It will be about running those twos with the bat and playing their very best game. I'd give them a decent chance here.

  11. Aus 0-0published at 0.1 overs

    Swing and a miss from Grace Harris first ball.

    Marizanne Kapp has that look on her face. She's up for it.

  12. Postpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 17 October

    South Africa line up for the national anthemsImage source, Getty Images

    The emotions are visible for both teams as the national anthems are performed - and both are a great listen, by the way. With 'Rally Round the West Indies' still to come tomorrow, we're spoilt for choice in the anthems department.

    Anyway, Grace Harris and Beth Mooney make their way to the middle, while Marizanne Kapp has the ball in hand for South Africa.

  13. Postpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 17 October

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Australia have got all of the resources, they have batters down to number nine. Their super strength is how they deal with pressure. They know how to win really big games, so they will just see this as any another match.

  14. Postpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 17 October

    Australia, with their astonishing T20 World Cup record, will be favourites here as they always are.

    But South Africa possess plenty of talent that could cause an upset.

    Opener Tazmin Brits is currently the tournament's leading run-scorer with 155 runs in four innings at an average of just over 51, while all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has the second-best strike-rate at 151.85. Meanwhile, Nonkululeko Mlaba is the second-highest wicket-taker with nine and will have a key role to play first up as slow bowling has dominated the tournament so far.

  15. Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 17 October

    Alyssa Healy leaving the field injured v PakistanImage source, get

    The big news is that Australia captain Alyssa Healy has not recovered from her injury in time for this game.

    Tahlia McGrath keeps her place as captain in her absence with Grace Harris opening the batting.

    But Healy did arrive at the ground this morning out of her crutches and boot, so Australia will be hoping she's not far off full fitness if they win today.

  16. Teamspublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 17 October

    Australia: Grace Harris, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (c), Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

    South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.

  17. 'Happy to apply scoreboard pressure'published at 14:40 British Summer Time 17 October

    Australia captain Tahlia McGrath: "It looks like a good wicket, we know it's a fast outfield, so we are happy to apply some scoreboard pressure in a semi-final.

    "Obviously Alyssa [Healy] hasn't made it so we've got the same team as we played against India.

    "Every wicket we've played on has been a bit different, but assessing conditions quickly and communicating that is something we do really well so I'm expecting more of the same."

  18. Postpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 17 October

    South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt: "We're going to have a bowl first. It looks a fresh wicket, we're going to chase later on.

    "Same team again. It's quite nice having experienced this wicket, it comes on better second half.

    "We have some quiet confidence coming into this match. Australia are a quality side, hopefully we can play our best cricket and catch them off guard."

  19. South Africa win the toss and bowlpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 17 October

    After West Indies chased so successfully against England a couple of days ago, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt opts to do the same.

  20. Welcomepublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 17 October

    Good afternoon!

    It's semi-final time, and it's a rematch of last year's final with South Africa seeking revenge on six-time winners Australia.

    Can the Proteas make it back-to-back finals or will it be an eighth successive one for the Aussies?

    We'll bring you the team news and result of the toss shortly.