Laura Wolvaardt has described South Africa's semi-final win against Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 as 'one of the best victories' of her cricketing career. The South African team stunned the defending champions, defeating Australia by 8 wickets in Dubai, marking their first-ever triumph over the Australians in the Women's T20 World Cup.
Emotions ran high as Wolvaardt expressed pride in her team’s achievement, particularly praising Anneke Bosch for her stellar performance, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 48 balls and earning the Player of the Match award. This victory not only avenged South Africa's loss in the previous year's final, but also ended Australia's impressive streak of 15 consecutive tournament wins.
"It's right up there as one of my best wins," Wolvaardt said in the post-match ceremony. "Anneke batted superbly, and it was a fantastic collective effort from the team. We strategized well against our opponents and executed our plans effectively."
Wolvaardt herself contributed with a solid 42 runs off 37 balls, helping establish a crucial partnership with Bosch. Their 96-run stand was pivotal in achieving the target of 135 runs, signifying the highest successful chase by South African women in T20 World Cup history.
Looking ahead to the final, Wolvaardt noted the unpredictability of her potential opponents, whether it be the West Indies or New Zealand, highlighting both teams' capabilities and the exciting atmosphere among the South African fans.