The South African women’s team is slowly picking up the pace in world cricket. They have reached finals, beaten giants in knockout matches, and consistently challenged for ICC trophies. Yet, the ‘chokers’ tag is still pretty much attached to them. When they walk out at Kennington Oval for the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against England, it will still be with them.
In the last three years, they have had three World Cup finals and three heartbreaks. Australia denied them on home soil in the 2023 T20 World Cup final. New Zealand broke their hearts in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Then came another crushing blow when India beat them in the 2025 ODI World Cup final. While the South African men’s team finally shed their own baggage by winning the World Test Championship (WTC), the women’s side are still searching for that one moment.
Standing in their way are hosts England, arguably the form team of the tournament and a side that seems to find another gear whenever a World Cup arrives on home soil. England have never lost a home Women’s World Cup..
South Africa’s semi-final specialists seek one more shot at glory
It is easy to focus on the finals South Africa have lost. But that would ignore how they got there in the first place. This team knows how to win semi-finals.
The last two times South Africa featured in a Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final, they won both. In 2023, they knocked out England. In 2024, they stunned Australia. So, this argument that they can’t win a knockout game is out of the picture. Yes, they haven’t been able to lift a silverware but they are coming ever-so close to it. That confidence will be needed again because England come with momentum and history on their side.
The hosts have won eight of their last nine T20Is against South Africa and have beaten them in each of their last four meetings. They also defeated the Proteas in their most recent T20 World Cup clash in Sharjah in 2024, ending South Africa’s winning streak against them in ICC events.
England have looked the most complete side in the competition. Danni Wyatt-Hodge is the leading run-scorer of the tournament, while the return of Nat Sciver-Brunt after her calf injury is obviously a big boost. The biggest selection headache for England is deciding who misses out, which is usually a sign that things are going well.
Yet there is one matchup South Africa will quietly fancy. Wyatt-Hodge may be in sublime form, but she has fallen a combined 12 times to Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail. If the Proteas’ new-ball pair strikes early, England’s dominance looks far less intimidating.
South Africa at ICC Women’s T20 World Cups
| T20 World Cup | Host | Result | Position | Matches | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | England | Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 | West Indies | Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2016 | India | Group Stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2018 | West Indies | Group Stage | 5th | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | Australia | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | South Africa | Final | Runners-up | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | UAE | Final | Runners-up | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 2026 | England | Qualified | TBD | – | – | – |
| 2028 | Pakistan | To be determined | TBD | – | – | – |
| Overall (2009-2024) | 9 T20 World Cups | 0 Titles | – | 39 | 17 | 21 |
