Dubai: South Africa became the first team from Group B to book a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 A year after playing their first Women’s T20 World Cup final, the Proteas are on course to make it two in two after they made it through a tough Group to book a semi-final spot.
With the match between England and West Indies just over the halfway stage, confirmation arrived on South Africa’s place in the semi-final.
South Africa had one foot in the semi-finals even prior to this game, but star bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba admitted to feeling tensed during the final Group fixture between England and West Indies with all three teams still in with a chance to make the final four, an ICC report said.
“I was really stressing out during training, my fingers were crossed the whole time. I was praying that at least we make it to the semis because I know we’ve been working hard and I feel like we deserve to play in the semis as well,” she said.
“I’m very excited to hear the news. I mean, we deserve it, honestly, and I can’t wait for the semis,” Mlaba said.
South Africa narrowly missed out on a title win last year at home after they made it to their first final, eventually losing to Australia in the ultimate clash.
With a potential face-off against the six-time champions looming, Mlaba was excited for a re-match of the 2023 final.
“I can’t control what’s going to happen. But obviously I knew if we make it to the semis, we play Australia. So in my head, I was already in that picture,” she said.
Mlaba has been a key figure in South Africa’s run to the knockout phase, picking up nine wickets at an average of 8.22. Only Melie Kerr has more wickets than her in the tournament so far.
But the spinner chose to laud the effort of the team rather than focusing on personal milestones.
“Without this team, I don’t think that would have been possible, because they were there throughout there, catching the balls, getting behind me. So, I think we really need each other because we’re playing as a team. So for me to take nine wickets, it’s not coming only from me, but for the team as well. It’s ours, actually, it’s not mine,” Mlaba added.
South Africa will meet Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai on Thursday after West Indies beat England by six wickets on Tuesday.
