New Delhi: South Africa strengthened their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with an 88-run victory over the Netherlands in Bristol on Thursday.Opening batsman Tazmin Brits produced the best innings of his career, not out on 114 off 69 balls as South Africa posted a tournament-winning 208/1 before bowling out the Netherlands to 120/8.The win was South Africa’s third in a row after their first loss to Australia and moved them to six points from four games, level with India in Group 1. Their semi-final hopes now depend on Sunday’s clash against Bangladesh, when India face group leaders Australia.Brits was the star of the evening, scoring her maiden T20I in her 82nd match. Her unbeaten 114 was the second highest in Women’s T20 World Cup history, behind Meg Lanning’s 126 against Ireland in 2014.She shared an opening stand of 121 runs with captain Laura Wolvaardt, who made 45, before adding an unbroken partnership of 87 with Annerie Dercksen, who smashed 37 not out in just 16 balls.The Brits started aggressively, helping South Africa to 66 without loss in the PowerPlay. With her knock, she also became the second woman in South Africa after Wolvaardt to complete 2,000 T20I runs.She reached her century in the 18th over of her first six innings and finished with three sixes and 15 boundaries. The total of 208/1 was the highest score for South Africa in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.Netherlands started the chase well, reaching 50 not out in the PowerPlay through Phoebe Molkenboer and Sanya Khurana. Molkenboer (41), Khurana and Sterre Kalis kept the score flowing as the Dutch passed 100 in the 15th over.However, he was never short of the required pace and fell heavily late in the innings, losing seven wickets in the last 20 overs.Ayabonga Khaka led South Africa’s bowling with figures of 3/19, while Shabnim Ismail continued his impressive return to action. Ismail scored her 48th wicket in Women’s T20 World Cup history, equaling Australia’s Megan Schutt as the tournament’s all-time wicket-taker.Speaking after receiving the Player of the Match award, the Brits admitted they had no idea they were on the brink of elimination.“I didn’t realize I was that close, to be honest with you. I just wanted to try and get us to 200, so that was the main goal. I’m really happy. It’s good to do that, especially at the World Cup,” he said.The Brits also revealed that he had worked hard to improve his off-side game and described his special celebration when he arrived at three shows.“It was a sign language festival. I was asked to do it, so I tried to learn it a little bit. I was saying, ‘Thank God.South Africa now need a win against Bangladesh at Lord’s, knowing that another win could see them into the semi-finals if the result holds.
