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A brilliant batting display powered South Africa into the T20 World Cup Final, with Anneke Bosch’s inspired 74* knocking out the tournament favourites and sending the Proteas through to Sunday’s showpiece Dubai.

Having restricted Australia to 134/5 in the first innings, South Africa’s top order put on a display of hitting under the lights of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (42 from 37) leading the way along with opening partner Tazim Brits (15 from 15).

But it was number three Bosch who really knocked the stuffing out of the Aussie bowling attack, scoring fast in her 74* from 48 deliveries to get her team well ahead of the rate, meaning there were few late nerves even when skipper Wolvaardt departed with 15 runs still required.

And fittingly it was Bosch who hit the winning runs, sparking jubilant scenes among the South African contingent in Dubai.

Earlier, opener Beth Mooney top-scored with 44 as Australia amassed 134.

Put into bat on a sluggish pitch, Australia lost Grace Harris and Georgia Wareham early on, before Mooney, who became the ninth player to pass 3,000 runs in T20I cricket, and stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath added 50 from 55 balls. 

McGrath fell for 27.  After Mooney was run out, Ellyse Perry, who was caught off the last ball of the innings for 31, and Phoebe Litchfield - with a sparkling 16 from nine balls - lifted Australia to a total that will test the side they beat in the final of last year's edition.

Ayabonga Khaka was the most successful of the South African bowlers with 2-24.