In Semi-Final 1 of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, defending champions Australia will take on 2023 runners-up South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the 17th of October 2024, at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). With high stakes on the line, the match also promises added excitement as several key players are poised to reach significant milestones, adding to the intrigue of the game.
Beth Mooney is 42 runs away from 3000 T20I runs
The ever-reliable opener, Beth Mooney, has amassed 2,958 runs from 99 T20I innings and stands just 42 runs away from joining Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy in Australia’s prestigious 3,000 Women’s T20I runs club. She would also become the eighth player overall in Women’s T20I cricket to achieve this milestone. Mooney began this campaign with impressive scores of 43* and 40, and with another crucial knock, she could reach this landmark in the upcoming match.
Ellyse Perry is 57 runs away from 7000 international runs
The veteran all-rounder, with 928 runs from 22 Test innings, 3,958 runs from 120 ODI innings, and 2,057 runs from 104 T20I innings, is just 57 runs away from reaching 7,000 runs in international cricket. Surpassing this milestone would place her among an elite group of women, including Smriti Mandhana, Stafanie Taylor, Suzie Bates, Meg Lanning, Charlotte Edwards, and Mithali Raj. With scores of 17, 30, 22*, and 32 in this T20 World Cup, the semi-final presents the perfect stage for Ellyse to reach this landmark.
Tahlia McGrath is 43 runs away from 2000 international runs
The promising all-rounder has accumulated 346 runs from 9 Test innings, 589 runs from 26 T20I innings, and 1,022 runs from 37 T20I innings, leaving her just 43 runs shy of 2,000 international runs. Although Tahlia McGrath hasn’t had many opportunities in this World Cup campaign, she made a significant impact in her most recent outing, scoring 32 runs and becoming the fastest Australian to reach 1,000 T20I runs. She now has the chance to build on that momentum and achieve another milestone with a substantial performance.
Megan Schutt is 5 wickets away from 150 T20I wickets & 2 away from 50 wickets at the Women’s T20 World Cup
Megan Schutt, the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is, has claimed 145 wickets from 116 T20I innings at an impressive economy rate of 6.28. She is just 5 wickets away from becoming the first female bowler to reach 150 wickets and only the third overall in T20Is (male/female), joining the ranks of Rashid Khan (152) and Tim Southee (164). Schutt has delivered an outstanding performance in the tournament so far, with remarkable figures of 3/12, 3/3, 1/7, and 1/25. While a five-wicket haul would mark her milestone of 150, she is also just 2 wickets away from completing 50 wickets in T20 World Cups, currently leading the tournament’s wicket tally after surpassing Shabnim Ismail (43) early in this edition.
Kim Garth is 2 wickets away from 100 international wickets and 3 away from 50 in Women’s T20Is
The star pacer has bagged 6 wickets from as many Test innings, 45 in 40 ODI innings, and 47 in 49 T20I innings, now just 2 wickets away from reaching 100 international wickets. Kim Garth, who played for Ireland from 2010 to 2019, claimed 42 wickets in 51 T20Is. In Australian colours, she has taken 5 wickets in just 6 T20Is and is 3 wickets away from 50 in Women’s T20Is. In ODIs, Garth picked up 23 wickets from 34 matches for Ireland and has since added 22 wickets in just 14 games for Australia. Although she has yet to feature in the 2024 World Cup, if given the opportunity, she could make a significant impact and achieve these milestones.
Laura Wolvaardt is 87 runs away from 2000 T20I runs
The dependable and consistent opening batter has racked up 1,913 runs from 70 T20I innings, at an average of 36.09 and a strike rate of 115.10. She is now just 87 runs away from reaching the milestone of 2,000 WT20I runs, which would make her the first South African to achieve this feat. Laura Wolvaardt finished as the leading run-scorer at last year’s T20 World Cup and has continued her impressive form this year, with scores of 59*, 42, 40, and 7 in the competition. Recently, she surpassed Lizelle Lee’s tally of 1,896 T20I runs, becoming South Africa’s highest run-scorer in Women’s T20Is. A solid performance in the upcoming match could see her etch another record into the books.
Marizanne Kapp is 13 runs away from 5000 international runs
The seasoned all-rounder has amassed 317 runs from 6 Test innings, 3,056 runs from 125 ODIs, and 1,614 runs from 93 T20Is, bringing her total to 4,987 runs—just 13 runs shy of reaching the remarkable milestone of 5,000 runs in international cricket. In addition to her batting prowess, she has claimed 157 ODI wickets and 87 T20I wickets. Marizanne Kapp has been a standout performer for South Africa in this campaign, contributing valuable scores of 26, 43, and 13*, while also taking 4 wickets. A special milestone is within her grasp, awaiting the decorated all-rounder.
The two teams have faced each other in 10 T20Is to date, with Australia holding the upper hand in this face-off, having won 9 games. Their only defeat came earlier this year in a bilateral series, but also promises an exciting rematch of last year’s T20 World Cup Final.
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