“One Night in Dubai!”
The iconic song by Iranian-Swedish singer Arash boomed through the loudspeakers on Thursday night in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final.
And it certainly was a night to remember in the desert metropolis for the Proteas Women as they confounded all predictions in such exquisite style.
Their emphatic defeat of the favourites and six-time champions Australia by eight wickets has reserved a second consecutive T20 World Cup final appearance for Laura Wolvaardt’s Proteas.
It was sweet revenge after last year’s final defeat to the Aussies at Newlands, and now makes anything possible with a genuine air of self-belief sweeping through the camp.
Never before have the Proteas beaten the Australians in a World Cup, and it was only at the start of this year that they tasted success for the first time in any format over the previously ‘Invincibles’ side.
But so unexpectedly impressive and regally entertaining was the Proteas’ batting performance that it left the Australians stunned.
Anneke Bosch was the heroine with an undefeated 74 off 48 balls. The Proteas No 3’s striking was outrageously bold and certain, utilising both the sweep and reverse-sweep with audacious precision.
The hard work done behind the scenes with batting coach Baakier Abrahams certainly bore fruit when it mattered most.
It was only fitting that it was a Bosch sweep that raced across the Dubai turf that took the Proteas past the Aussies’ 134/5 to set off wild celebrations in the dug-out, and back home in Mzansi.
“My heart is racing. We remind ourselves about the feeling we had at last year’s World Cup, when all our fans were actually there. Very incredible feeling, so we kind of try to play for them. I can’t really describe it, but we knew we were capable of it,” Player-of-the-Match Bosch said.
“We’ve had a pretty good tournament so far coming into this game, and we were quite confident. I think our batters like Taz (Brits) and Wolvaardt have been incredible this tournament, and also our bowlers have been really, really good.
“It was quite tough out there, but I’m really glad we could get over the line, and that I could finally contribute with some runs. I think just keep trying to push the floor and stick to what works in these conditions.
“Yeah, not over-think it, but don’t try too many things. And yeah, just play what the conditions allow and stick to what’s in your mind.”
Bosch was certainly not the lone stand-out on the night.
Her 96-run partnership off 65 balls with skipper Wolvaardt was the bedrock of the successful chase, especially after Tazmin Brits departed for 15 within the Powerplay.
Wolvaardt’s experience and composure came to the fore, as she shepherded and motivated Bosch throughout the partnership to maintain her attacking intent.
It proved to be the perfect foil, with Wolvaardt contributing a solid 42 off 37 balls (3x4, 1x6). The right-hander thoroughly deserved a half-century, but she can look forward to having another go in the showpiece final on Sunday against either the West Indies or New Zealand, who will meet in Friday’s second semi-final.
The Proteas’ bowling unit had been much-maligned coming into this T20 World Cup, but were masterly and clinical when it mattered most in the pressure of a semi-final.
They subdued the much-vaunted Australian batting unit, who admittedly were without their injured captain and opener Alyssa Healy.
Early wickets were precisely what the Proteas needed, and they came courtesy of Ayabonga Khaka’s first ball of her spell.
She ensured Grace Harris was not able to repeat her heroics from the previous game against India, when her attempted slash through the offside was beautifully taken inches off the ground by Bosch at point.
Bosch’s grab set the tone from the outset for the Proteas in the field, especially as she had spilled a much easier chance in the very same position in an earlier group game against England.
“It is important to hold onto your catches. I’m just glad I held on to it. It’s a similar catch that I dropped, so I’m glad I could take this one,” Bosch said.
The confidence filtered through to the next over when Marizanne Kapp left her mark on the semi-final by having Georgia Wareham caught behind the very next over to leave Australia in trouble at 18/2 after three overs.
The Australians are a high-class outfit, and they were always going to rally with Beth Mooney (44) and stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath (27) sharing a 52-run partnership before Nonkululeko Mlaba extended her lead at the top of the tournament’s wicket-takers’ list by having McGrath caught at cover point.
The South Africans continued to produce little pieces of magic in the field, with Kapp running out Mooney in her follow-through just when last year’s Player of the Final was about to put her foot down on the accelerator.
Ellyse Perry (31 not out off 23 balls) and Phoebe Litchfield (16 not out off nine balls) produce late cameos, but it was not nearly enough on a memorable night in Dubai for the Proteas.
Brief Scores
Australia 134/5 (Mooney 44, Khaka 2/24, Kapp 1/24)
South Africa 135/2 (Bosch 74*, Wolvaardt 42, Sutherland 2/26)
South Africa won by eight wickets