 "Australia remain favourites to clinch a record-extending Women's T20 World Cup title. AP")
The stage is set for the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Defending champions Australia and New Zealand were the teams to have qualified for the semi-finals as Group A winners and runners-up respectively. From Group B, West Indies and South Africa advanced as group winners and runners-up respectively.
India, who were led by Harmanpreet Kaur, missed out on qualifying for the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2016, after the Women in Blue finished third in Group A with four points.
Before we get to know more about the four semi-finalists, let’s take a quick look at the semi-final fixtures:
Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final fixtures (All times IST)
17 October
Australia vs South Africa at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai (7.30 pm)
18 October
West Indies vs New Zealand at Sharjah Cricket Ground, Sharjah (7.30 pm)
20 October
The Final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai (7.30 pm)
Who are the semi-finalists?
Australia
Among the four teams in the semi-finals, Australia look the most likely to clinch what would be a record-extending seventh title. The defending champions have been clinical as always and ended the group stage unbeaten as they topped Group A with eight points.
Ellyse Perry (101 runs from four matches) is Australia’s top run-getter in this edition at the moment, with pacer Megan Schutt (eight wickets) topping the team’s wicket-takers’ list.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSouth Africa
South Africa’s qualification to the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals was only confirmed after West Indies’ six-wicket win over England in the final group stage match on Tuesday. Which meant that South Africa had to endure a frustrating wait despite beating Bangladesh by seven wickets on 12 October.
South Africa finished the group stage with six points, same as toppers West Indies with only NRR separating the two teams. The Proteas’ wins came against Scotland and hosts Bangladesh as well as 2016 champions West Indies, whereas they lost to England by seven wickets.
It won’t be easy for Laura Wolvaardt’s side, who had lost to Australia in the final of the 2023 edition at home.
New Zealand
New Zealand had begun the group stage with a convincing 58-run win over India, before suffering a heavy 60-run loss to Australia in the second match. The Kiwis then beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets, and were once in a three-way tie for a semi-final spot with India and Pakistan being the other two teams.
However, for the White Ferns, the equation against Pakistan was pretty simple — win and they advance. Despite being restricted to 110/6 against Pakistan after batting first, the bowlers led by Amelia Kerr (3/14) and Rosemary Mair (2/7) saw Pakistan off for just 56, thus completing a 54-run win to reach the last-four.
West Indies
West Indies began with a forgettable 10-wicket loss to South Africa in their opening Group B match, but it has only been onwards and upwards for them, with three consecutive wins seeing them through to the knockout stage.
In their final group match against England, West Indies’ openers finally got the chance to shine. Skipper Hayley Matthews (50) and Qiana Joseph (52) forged a 102-run stand for the opening wicket to set the platform in their 142-run chase. Deandra Dottin’s 19-ball 27 was also crucial in sending off England out of the group stage.