Australia Women vs South Africa Women prediction and T20 cricket betting tips

Where to watch Australia Women vs South Africa Women

Sky Sports Cricket & Sky Sports Main Event, 3pm Thursday

Best bets

South Africa to have higher opening partnership
2pts 5-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Ash Gardner top Australia wicket-taker
1pt 7-2 BoyleSports

Australia Women vs South Africa Women prediction

Australia Women won six of the first eight Women's T20 World Cups and their chances of a seventh title have been boosted by shock group-stage exits for India and England.

The Aussies won all four of their Group A games, including Sunday's nine-run victory against India, who were second-favourites in the ante-post betting.

The West Indies' surprise win over England on Tuesday set up a semi-final between Australia and South Africa – the team they beat in last year's T20 World Cup final in Cape Town.

The Aussies are hot favourites for a tenth victory in 11 T20 international meetings with South Africa although their only defeat came this year in Canberra.

South Africa openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits put on 75 in that game, helping their side to a six-wicket victory, and they kicked off this tournament with an unbroken stand of 119 in the Group B rout of the Windies.

Brits was the leading runscorer in the group stage, with 155 runs in four innings, and skipper Wolvaardt, who made 61 in last year's final, racked up 148.

South Africa are worth backing to post a higher opening partnership, especially as Alyssa Healy, Australia's captain, opener and wicketkeeper, is a major injury doubt.

Ash Gardner, player of the tournament at the 2023 T20 World Cup, deputised as skipper against India and the spinner took 4-21 against Pakistan in Dubai, the venue for the semi-final.

Gardner claimed two of the four wickets to fall in Australia's January defeat to South Africa and she should pose a threat on a spin-friendly pitch in the UAE.

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