Tahlia McGrath powers Australia into T20 World Cup semi-finals

Australia marched into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over hosts South Africa, sparked by Tahlia McGrath’s 33-ball 57 and Georgia Wareham’s 2-8 in Gqeberha.

Ashleigh Gardner, who took her 50th T20I wicket earlier in the night, helped the defending champions round out their group-stage campaign undefeated with her unbeaten 29-ball 28.

Her 56-ball, fourth-wicket 81-run stand with player of the match McGrath was the cornerstone of Australia’s successful 125-run chase in the second fixture of Saturday’s double-header at the St George’s Park Stadium.

No 6 Grace Harris hit a match-sealing four-first ball as Australia overhauled the target with 21 deliveries to spare.

Earlier, the absence of their highest run-scorer in the tournament, Alyssa Healy, who was ruled out with soreness in the left quad, forced a rejigged batting order.

Ellyse Perry, promoted to partner opener Mooney in Healy’s stead, hit two fours in her eight-ball stay but fell prey to the South Africa’s back-of-a-length ploy in the powerplay.

Marizanne Kapp, playing her first World Cup match at her home ground, had the star allrounder caught by first-slip off a thick edge to the delight of an 8367-strong crowd.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba then added excitement by having skipper Meg Lanning bowled behind her legs with a top-of-off-stump strike. Mooney was next to depart, Kapp’s full-length pinging her toe plumb lbw.

A see-saw first 10 overs for Australia ended with them putting 60-3 on the board. Gardner and stand-in vice-captain McGrath then took charge, riding their luck early as their wild swings sent edges flying beyond patrolled areas.

Neither pacers nor spinners could keep McGrath quiet. The 27-year-old stroked a flurry of