NEW DELHI: South Africa boosted their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a convincing 88-run win over the Netherlands in Bristol on Thursday.Opener Tazmin Brits produced the innings of her career, remaining unbeaten on 114 off 69 balls as South Africa posted a tournament-best 208/1 before restricting the Netherlands to 120/8.The win was South Africa’s third in a row after their opening loss to Australia and lifted them to six points from four matches, level with India in Group 1. However, the Proteas remain behind India on net completion rate. Their semi-final hopes will now hinge on Sunday’s clash against Bangladesh, while India face group leaders Australia.Brits was the star of the night, scoring his maiden T20I century in his 82nd match. Her unbeaten 114 was the second highest individual score in Women’s T20 World Cup history behind Meg Lanning’s 126 against Ireland in 2014.She shared a 121-run stand with captain Laura Wolvaardt, who made 45, before adding an unbroken 87-run partnership with Annerie Dercksen, who smashed 37 off just 16 balls.The Brits started aggressively, helping South Africa reach an unbeaten 66th in the PowerPlay. During her knock, she also became only the second South African after Wolvaardt to complete 2000 T20I runs.She reached her century in the 18th over in the first six innings and finished with three sixes and 15 boundaries. The total of 208/1 was South Africa’s highest ever in Women’s T20 World Cup history.The Netherlands made a positive start to the chase, reaching 50. unbeaten in PowerPlay through Phoebe Molkenboer and Sanya Khurana. Molkenboer (41), Khurana and Sterre Kalis kept the score on the scoreboard as the Dutch crossed 100 in the 15th over.However, they were never close to the required run rate and suffered a dramatic collapse late in the innings, losing seven wickets in the last 20 runs.Ayabonga Khaka led the South African bowling attack with figures of 3/19 while Shabnim Ismail continued her remarkable comeback from retirement. Ismail claimed her 48th wicket in Women’s T20 World Cup history, tying Australia’s Megan Schutt as the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker.Speaking after receiving the man of the match award, the Briton admitted she hardly realized she was approaching a century.“I actually didn’t even realize I was close to it, to be honest with you. I just wanted to try to get to 200, so that was the main goal. I’m really stoked. “It’s nice to do it, especially at the World Cup,” she said.The Briton also revealed that she has been working on improving her game outside the game and explained her unique celebration after reaching three figures.“It was a celebration of sign language. They asked me to do it, so I tried to study a little bit. I was saying, ‘I thank God.’South Africa now head into a must-win clash against Bangladesh at Lord’s, knowing that another win could seal a place in the semi-finals if the results are to their liking.
