South Africa Women Cricket Team: History, Semi-Finals and Finals
An overview of the South Africa women’s cricket team, the Proteas Women, including World Cup semi-finals and T20 World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024.
South Africa’s women have steadily moved up the international ranks and become regular contenders for the knockout stages of global tournaments. The side is often referred to as the Proteas Women, a name shared with the country’s men’s team.
Early years
The team played its first Test series in 1960 against England. As with other national sports, South Africa’s international participation was affected by the country’s long period of sporting isolation, and the modern era of consistent fixtures began later.
Governing body
The team is run by Cricket South Africa, which oversees domestic and international women’s cricket. The country has developed its domestic programmes and franchise-style competitions, helping players gain more frequent match practice.
Global tournaments
South Africa has reached the semi-finals of the Women’s ODI World Cup on several occasions, including 2017 and 2022. In 2017 they lost to England by two wickets in a close match at Bristol, and in 2022 they again went out at the semi-final stage against England.
The T20 World Cup has been the team’s most successful stage. South Africa hosted the 2023 edition and reached the final at Newlands in Cape Town, losing by 19 runs to Australia. They reached the final again in 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, where New Zealand beat them by 32 runs.
Outlook
Back-to-back T20 World Cup finals showed the side’s growing consistency. The aim now is to turn those near-misses into a first global title, supported by domestic structures and investment in coaching and facilities. This overview does not cover current squads, captaincy, rankings or results after 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Has South Africa Women reached a T20 World Cup final?
Yes. They reached the final in both 2023 and 2024, losing to Australia and New Zealand respectively.
What is the team’s nickname?
The team is often called the Proteas Women.
Who hosted the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup?
South Africa hosted the 2023 tournament, with the final played in Cape Town.