Australia will meet West Indies on 30 June, with England taking on South Africa two nights later – both Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals shoe-horned into a busy week at the Oval.
Australia’s ticket was stamped in Sunday’s last Group 1 match at Lord’s, a five-wicket win over India that looked closer on paper than it felt in the seats. India’s 170 for 4 appeared handy enough – Harmanpreet Kaur called it “par with a bit of traffic” – but Australia, calm as you like, knocked it off with an over spare and preserved their unbeaten record.
“We stuck to our plans and trusted the depth right down the list,” skipper Meg Lanning said afterwards. “Semi-finals are another level, though – no room for loose overs.” Her side finished on ten points, clear of the net-run-rate tangle that tripped India. South Africa, who had earlier eased past Bangladesh, were left in the players’ viewing area refreshing the scores. A few cheers, a couple of relieved hugs, and they were through on six points.
Group 2 wrapped up 24 hours earlier. West Indies, surprised by Ireland mid-week, still had a pulse provided England beat New Zealand – and Heather Knight’s team obliged. England swept all five group matches. “Consistency’s been the watch-word,” Knight said, “but knockouts test your nerve more than your numbers.” Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain, admitted her side “rode a bit of luck”, yet pointed to “enough good cricket to feel we deserve a crack at Australia”.
So the Oval gets the sharp end: Australia v West Indies first, England v South Africa second. Two contrasting pairs, four tidy bowling attacks, plenty of muscle at the top of the order. On recent evidence Australia and England start favourites, though net-run-rate mathematics and group form count for little once the lights go on. As Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng noted, “One power-play can flip a semi-final on its head.”
A short breather, then the winners play the final down the road at Lord’s on 5 July. One week, three matches, a new champion if Australia are finally tripped. Hard to ask for much more.
