In a historic achievement, South Africa’s Under-19 women’s cricket team has secured their first-ever spot in the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup final. The Proteas clinched a five-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-final held at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.
Opting to bat first, Australia faced early setbacks as South African bowler Nthabiseng Nini dismissed opener Ines Mckeon with the very first ball of the match. Ashleigh van Wyk further dismantled the Australian lineup, claiming four wickets for 17 runs. Despite a resilient 36-run effort by Caoimhe Bray and an unbeaten 27 from Ella Briscoe, Australia managed a total of 105 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, South Africa’s Jemma Botha led the chase with a solid 34 runs, supported by Kayla Reyneke’s 26. The team maintained a steady run rate, overcoming the loss of early wickets. Contributions from Karabo Meso (19) and Mieke van Voorst (8*) ensured that South Africa reached the target with 11 balls to spare, finishing at 106 for 5. 
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This victory preserves South Africa’s unbeaten streak in the tournament and propels them into the final, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between reigning champions India and England. The final is scheduled for Sunday, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
For a visual recap of South Africa’s journey to the final, watch the highlight reel here:
Source; https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/live-knockout-stage-commences-with-u19wc-2025-semi-finals
