Six-time winners Australia suffered a shock semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup as South Africa raced to an emphatic eight-wicket win in Dubai.

The defending champions missed out on an eighth final appearance as the Proteas reached their target of 135 with 16 balls to spare.

Anneke Bosch struck a sensational unbeaten 74 from 48 balls while captain Laura Wolvaardt added a classy 42 in a second-wicket partnership of 96 that left Australia reeling.

Wolvaardt later described her team`s victory as "one of our biggest wins ever".

The brilliantly executed run chase came after South Africa`s bowlers had smartly restricted Australia to 134-5 in a curiously underwhelming innings.

Grace Harris and Georgia Wareham fell early in the powerplay before opener Beth Mooney dropped anchor with 44 from 42 balls.

Australia paid the price for stuttering in the middle overs, with the run-rate rarely creeping over a run a ball as captain Tahlia McGrath trudged to 27 from 33.

Ellyse Perry`s 31 from 23 and Phoebe Litchfield`s nine-ball 16 added a late burst but the total still felt below par on a pitch that favoured chasing, as West Indies proved against England on Wednesday.

South Africa started the chase confidently with a powerplay of 43-1, comfortably ahead of Australia`s 35-2 at the same stage, before Tazmin Brits` departure for 15 opened the door for the phenomenal match-winning partnership.

Bosch, whose previous high score in the tournament was 25, crunched eight fours and a six in her match-winning effort.

It rewarded the faith of the South Africa selectors who kept her at number three, and meant they reached their second successive final after the 2023 edition on home soil.

The second semi-final takes place between New Zealand and West Indies at Sharjah on Friday, meaning Sunday`s final will be the first in either white-ball format without Australia or England involved.

Reacting to the win, South African cricket writer Firdose Moonda told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have had an incredible 18 months of sport in South Africa.

"We are a country with very little financial resource, compared to others like Australia for example, and we are a country punching so far above its weight, while being one of the most diverse teams and unifying South Africa.

"Many people survive on hope alone in our country and these women have brought so much hope."

Source: BBC