🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: 1st Semi Final - AusW vs SAW🏏 - Page 2

Today's Match Prediction: Australia Women to win the match

Scenario 1

Australia Women win the toss and opt to bowl first

Powerplay Score: 35-45

SA-W: 135-145

Australia Women win the match

Scenario 2

South Africa Women win the toss and opt to bowl first

Powerplay Score: 45-55

AUS-W: 145-155

Australia Women win the match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The surface of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is a balanced one as it has something for both batters and bowlers. Hence it is expected to stay as a sporting track in nature for the upcoming mega fixture. The batters will have to stay patient early on as they can accelerate their innings as the game goes on. Therefore, the skipper winning the toss at this venue will be tempted to bowl first, in a bid to have a calculative run chase.

Welcome to our live coverage of the first semi-final of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. It's Australia versus South Africa in Dubai. Six-time winners vs a side chasing the elusive title. In fact, today's will be a rematch of the 2023 T20 World Cup final, in which South Africa suffered a heartbreaking loss in front of their home crowd in Cape Town. Will Laura Wolvaardt's team avenge last year's defeat or are we going to see Australia making it to yet another title clash? Get your coffee and snacks and settle in nicely for an entertaining game of cricket. I am Srinidhi Ramanujam and will be joined by S Sudarshanan as we bring you all the live action.

Aus vs SA match-ups: Can Schutt trip up Brits?

Let me recap how this tournament has panned out for these two teams: Australia are unbeaten in this T20 World Cup, winning all four of their games so far. South Africa have a 3-1 record having lost their second match of the tournament to England. Sruthi Ravindranath in her preview mentions that South Africa's record against Australia is not great, having won just one out of the 10 T20Is they've played each other. And, and South Africa have not won a single World Cup game against Australia across formats.

Before you all start asking... We don't know whether Alyssa Healy is fit yet. On the eve of the semi-final, Ellyse Perry said that "the medical staff and the team are going to give her every opportunity and possibility of playing tomorrow night. I don't think anything's changed in that respect. We'll just have to see in the next 24 hours." Healy pulled up with a foot injury while running between wickets during Australia's win against Pakistan and she watched their final group-stage game against India in a moon boot and on crutches. If she isn't fit, it might be a big blow for Australia who will then be led by Tahlia McGrath.

After 20 league matches, the best 4 teams are through to the semifinals - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies, in that exact order. Tonight is the first semis and it pits heavy favourites Australia up against plucky South Africa. This is a rematch of the 2023 T20 World Cup final, a game won by Australia, by 19 runs. Australia went through the 2023 tournament undefeated and are on the road towards a similar result this year as well. On the other hand, South Africa had a slightly anxious wait before they could book their ticket for the semis, with the qualifications confirmed only at the halfway stage of the England-West Indies game, the final match of the group. They were tamely beaten twice in their own den in 2023 and they'll start as firm underdogs today as well, but they've promised to give the Aussies a good run for their money. Dubai is the centre for this match and the pitch here has improved as the tournament has worn on. Will we see a high scoring encounter today?

Team News - Our correspondent, Purnima Malhotra, is nice and early at the venue and the first thing she's spotted is that Alyssa Healy is walking fine. But is she match fit? We should get to know closer to the toss, but at least the Australian skipper isn't wearing the moon-boat now and is in full Australian kit.

ICYMI - Firdose Moonda has done a really nice interview of Annerie Dercksen, from farm girl to fast bowling allrounder. It's the story of the 23-year old, who grew up without a tv in her house, is now dreaming of winning a World Cup for South Africa.

Jack: "I've made the perhaps stupid decision to stay up into the graveyard hours in Australia to watch this semi final! I hope it won't be in vain!"

Road to the semis - It has been pretty much straightforward for the Australians as they started their defence of the title 3 easy wins. India were expected to give a fight and they did fight hard, but as has been previously, the experience and the class of Australia was a gulf too much for the sprightly Indians, the Aussies won the big moments and scraped their way to a 9-run victory in the end.

Unlike Australia, South Africa have taken the tougher road to the semis. They started with a convincing 10-wicket win over West Indies, but they then stumbled to a loss against England. Two big wins followed, against Bangladesh and Scotland, wins that helped them get to a decent position in terms of net run-rate, which was eventually good enough to pip England. Unlike Australia, they do have a full squad to pick from and they'll need to be at their very best if they're to cause an upset at the 'Ring of Fire'