On February 23, the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 will reach a critical juncture as the first semi-final kicks off at Newlands in Cape Town, featuring defending champions Australia against India. While India secured their place in the knockouts with three victories and a single loss, Australia dominated Group A by winning all their matches to secure a spot in the semis. However, the task ahead for India is daunting, as they have struggled to defeat Australia in major tournaments in the past. Notably, they lost to the Women in Yellow in the final of last year’s World Cup and were also defeated by them in the gold medal match of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Match Schedule of Semi-Finals & Know All About It
1st Semi-final – Australia vs India: February 23 at Newlands in Cape Town, 01:00 pm GMT / 03:00 pm LOCAL
2nd Semi-final – England vs South Africa: February 24 at Newlands in Cape Town, 01:00 pm GMT / 03:00 pm LOCAL
Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: Tournament Format and Road to Semi-Final
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place in South Africa from 9 February to 26 February 2023. The top eight teams in the world will compete in the tournament, which will be the seventh edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. The top four teams from the group stage will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners of each semi-final advancing to the final on 26 February 2023. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals. The teams will be ranked based on their points, with two points awarded for a win, one point for a tie/no result, and zero points for a loss.
How are Semi-final Matchups Determined in Group Stage?
In Group A, Australia, England, West Indies, and Qualifier 1 competed for a place in the semi-finals, while India, South Africa, New Zealand, and Qualifier 2 did the same in Group B.
The top two teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals, with the teams ranked based on the number of points earned during the group stage. A win will earn two points, while a tie or no result will be awarded one point and a loss will earn zero points.
The team that finishes first in Group A will play against the team that finishes second in Group B in one semi-final, while the team that finishes first in Group B will face the team that finishes second in Group A in the other semi-final.
1st Semi-Final Women’s T20 World Cup Match Details:
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the 1st Semi-Final of the Women’s T20 World Cup will take place between Australia and India on February 23 at Newlands in Cape Town.
Who is India’s Standout Performer in Women’s T20 World Cup?
India’s standout performer in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup has been Renuka Singh, who has taken seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul against England. Meanwhile, Richa Ghosh and Smriti Mandhana have been impressed with the bat. However, to secure a spot in the final, India will need to deliver a strong all-around performance against the formidable Australian side in the semi-finals.
India Squads for Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey.
Australia Squads for Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final:
Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
Australia, who have been dominant throughout the tournament, will be aiming to maintain their momentum with a full-strength line-up.
2nd Semi-Final Women’s T20 World Cup Match Details:
Meanwhile, the second semi-final will take place between the hosts South Africa and England on February 24 at the same venue. England, like Australia, won all their group-stage matches and have displayed excellent teamwork so far.
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone have been instrumental in their team’s outstanding performance in the tournament. Sciver-Brunt, with 176 runs, is the top run-scorer in the competition, while Ecclestone is the leading wicket-taker with eight scalps to her name.
England Squads for Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final:
Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt.
South Africa Squads for Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final:
In contrast, South Africa scraped into the semi-finals by virtue of their superior net run rate. If they want to progress to the final, the hosts will need to produce their best performance against Group B table-toppers.
Sune Luus (c), Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Lara Goodall, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, Tazmin Brits, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Anneke Bosch, Delmi Tucker.
How are the Final Matchups Determined?
The winners of the semi-finals will progress to the final, which will take place on 26 February 2023 and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 promises to be an exciting and closely contested tournament, with the world’s best teams battling it out for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.
