Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup - Proteas primed to challenge again

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 4 minutes ago

Simon Lewis 4 minutes ago

Share this article

South Africa lost in the 2023 and 2024 World Cup finals to Australia and New Zealand.
Laura Wolvaardt was the tournament’s leading run-scorer in 2024 with 223 runs.
The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup takes place from 12 June to 5 July 2026.

Laura Wolvaardt has been the leading run-scorer in the last two World Cups (Getty Images).

South Africa have played in all nine T20 World Cups to date, making the semi-final in 2014 for the first time, losing to England by nine wickets after being bowled out for 101. They lost to Australia by five runs on the DLS method in the 2020 semi-final, with Laura Wolvaardt scoring 41* off 27 balls.

First final in 2023

South Africa hosted the tournament in 2023 after it was delayed a year due to Covid. The Proteas edged out New Zealand and Sri Lanka on superior run rate to make it through to the semi-final.

South Africa gained revenge on England by pulling off a 6-run victory after posting a score of 164/4 off their 20 over, with Tazmin Brits scoring 68 off 55 balls. South Africa had England eight wickets down for 158 off their 20 overs, with Ayabonga Khaka (4/29) leading the attack.

In the final Shabnim Ismail (2/26) bowled superbly to limit a strong Australian side to a score of 156/6 off their 20 overs. South Africa could only manage a score of 137/6 off their 20 overs, with Laura Wolvaardt top-scoring with 61 off 48 balls.

With their victory Australia clinched their 6th T20 World Cup title, while Wolvaardt ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 230 runs.

Second final in 2024

South Africa’s development as one of the strongest sides in T20 cricket continued as they made the final for the second tournament in a row. They finished second in Group B with three wins from four matches, beating out England for a semi-final spot on run rate.

Facing defending champions Australia in the semi-final, South Africa played superbly to limit their opponents to 134/5 off their 20 overs. Ayabonga Khaka was again the star with the ball, returning figures of 2/24 off her four overs. South Africa powered to an 8-wicket win off just 17.2 overs thanks to a second-wicket stand of 96 between Laura Wolvaardt (42) and Anneke Bosch (74*).

After their heroics against the defending champions in the semi-final, South Africa fell flat in the final despite a good bowling performance. Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/31) returned the best figures with the ball, while Chloe Tryon was the most economical (1/22m, econ 5.50).

Laura Wolvaardt (33) and Tazmin Brits (17) got the Proteas off to a good start with an opening stand of 51 inside seven overs, but a batting collapse saw them struggle to reach 126/9 off their 20 overs to lose a final they were expected to win by 32 runs.