South Africa women's cricket team scripted history as the dazzling duo of Ayabonga Khaka and Tazmin Brits helped hosts outclass England by six runs in the thrilling Women's T20 World Cup semifinals on Friday (February 24) to set maiden final date with mighty Australia.
Riding on Laura Wolvaardt's 53 and Tazmin Brits' 68, South Africa posted a competitive total of 164/4. In reply, the 2009 champions England were restricted to 158/8, thanks to Khaka's incredible spell of 29/4 which decided the course of the match.
England were 53-0 inside the powerplay and 131/3 after 16 overs in a chase of 165, only for the dismissal of Nat Sciver-Brunt (40 off 34) to trigger a collapse of 4-8, with three wickets coming in Khaka's three-run 18th over.
A six from Heather Knight (31 off 25) in the 19th left England requiring 13 from Shabnim Ismail's 20th over but she was then bowled as South Africa reached their maiden World Cup final after five previous semi-final defeats across the T20-over and 50-over tournaments.
The Proteas will now look to deny defending champions Australia a third title in a row and sixth overall in Sunday's final at Newlands, at which they should have another vocal home support.
Earlier, batting first openers Wolvaardt and Brits struck entertaining half-centuries to take South Africa to 164/4 in the second semifinal against England at Newlands in Cape Town.
The hosts' star batter Wolvaardt (53 off 44) and Britz (68 off 55) shared a 96-run stand to lay the groundwork for a competitive total.
England's lead spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for 22 runs in four overs.
It was a second successive fifty from the 23-year-old Wolvaardt whose innings comprised five fours and a glorious off-drive than went all the way for a six.
Ecclestone was the one to provide the breakthrough for England as Wolvaardt, trying to play on the on side, got a leading edge and was caught by Charlotte Dean.
Britz changed gears following her opening partner's dismissal. Her back to straight sixes off leggie Sarah Glenn was the highlight of her innings.
Ecclestone pulled things back in the death overs with wickets of Chloe Tyron and Nadine de Klerk in a three run over before Marizanne Kapp got a much needed 23 not out off 13 balls to take the total beyond 160. Katherine Sciver-Brunt's last over went for 18 runs and included a boundary off a waist high full toss. Kapp ended the innings on a high with back to back fours.
South Africa were able to collect 66 runs off the last six overs.
