WITH the group stage of the T20 Women’s World Cup 2024 all run and done, now it is time to look ahead to the finals series. Four teams are left – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies – but only one can ultimately claim the prize they all seek.

The least surprising member of that quartet is Australia. As the reigning champions and the dominant force in world women’s cricket, it is almost a given that the Australians would make this stage of the tournament.

They finished the group stage undefeated, with the bowlers having really led the way. No Aussies are in the top 10 for the tournament so far for runs (Ellyse Perry is 11th), but there are three in the top 10 for most wickets (Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux), which shows how much the bowlers have made life easier for the batters.

Their opponents in tonight’s semi final South Africa have made the semi final stage yet again, but as the South Africans are paying Australia in the semi final, this means we will not see a repeat match up of last year’s decider.

The fact that South Africa has made this stage of the tournament again shows it really is a country on the rise in women’s cricket, and should be watched with intrigue in years to come. It is also a team that is diversifying, with less reliance on Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp as Tazmin Brits and Nonkululeko Mlaba have really stepped up this tournament, which is only a good thing moving forward.

Then there are the two surprise packets.

Pre tournament, not many pundits would have given either the West Indies nor New Zealand much hope of making this stage of the tournament as they do not have the recent form to show it, but these two have defied those expectations and one of them will make the final of this tournament.

For the West Indies, Afy Fletcher is someone that has really come to the fore this tournament, and skipper Hayley Matthews will be hoping she can continue that form for the rest of this tournament. Speaking of Matthews, the fact that the West Indies has topped the group means she is not as much of a bellwether player as she used to be, which is only a good thing. She has players like Fletcher and Qiana Joseph to take some of the pressure off her.

New Zealand has also unearthed some new potential stars this tournament.

Gone are the days where the Kiwis relied on Sophie Devine to solely get the job done with either bat or ball. Georgia Plimmer has really starred this tournament, while Amelia Kerr continues to become more and more of a star every tournament she plays despite still only being 24.

T20 Women’s World Cup 2024 Semi Final Fixture

Australia vs South Africa – 6pm Thursday local time (1am Friday AEDT)

West Indies vs New Zealand – 6pm Friday local time (1am Saturday AEDT)