Twitter Reactions: Australia breeze past South Africa to book semi-final spot

Reigning champions Australia stormed into their eighth successive semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa after easing past the hosts in a comfortable chase at St George's Park on Saturday, February 18. South Africa failed to test the Aussie batters after posting a below par-total of 124 runs on the board. The Women in Yellow won the game with nearly four overs to spare, thanks to a blistering half-century from Tahlia McGrath.

Chasing a modest total, Australia made a shaky start as make-shift opener Ellyse Perry departed cheaply in the fifth over. Skipper Meg Lanning followed suit in the very next over to hand a glimmer of hope for the hosts. Australia were in a spot of bother after losing influential opener Beth Mooney after the powerplay.

South Africa were smelling a first victory against their opponents in World Cup clashes, but their hopes were dashed when Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath got together in the middle. The duo stitched together a decisive partnership for the fourth wicket, taking Australia to the cusp of victory. While Gardner kept the strike rotating from one end, it was McGrath who did the damage with a scathing assault on the hosts.

South Africa post modest total despite a strong start

Earlier, the hosts were put into bat after Australia won the toss. South Africa started the game on the front foot, thanks to a solid opening stand between Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. Brits was the aggressor for the home side at the top order, compiling a valiant 45 off 36 deliveries.

However, she did not receive much support from the other end, and a middle-order collapse did not help affairs either, as the hosts scraped to a lowly 124 runs in their 20 overs. Legspinner Georgia Wareham was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, returning with disciplined bowling figures of 2/18 in her three overs.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Australia's emphatic victory: