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Left-arm spinner Ashleigh van Wyk has ended Australia’s under-19 T20 World Cup campaign in clinical fashion, helping South Africa cruise to a five-wicket win that secured a spot in the final.

Van Wyk, aged 16, earned player-of-the-match honours in the semi-final with a haul of 4-17 that helped restrict Australia to a total of 8-105.

South Africa, who are undefeated at the tournament being hosted in Malaysia, hauled in their target with 11 balls remaining.

Van Wyk claimed the key scalp of Caoimhe Bray, who top-scored for Australia with 36.

Skipper Lucy Hamilton headlined the list of players with WBBL experience in Australia’s squad, having represented Brisbane Heat in this season’s final.

Sydney Sixers all-rounder Bray made history in October, when the 15-year-old became the youngest player to feature in the WBBL – the world’s premier women’s T20 league.

Hamilton claimed two wickets in the World Cup semi-final but couldn’t conjure a collapse as Jemma Botha (37) and Kayla Reyneke (26) helped settle any nerves among their teammates.

“Credit to South Africa, they really showed up today and put a lot of pressure on us,” Hamilton said at the post-match ceremony. “We knew they were going to come with lots of spinners, mainly from our Sri Lanka game (when Sri Lanka’s spinners helped inspire a major upset).

“Obviously not enough runs. We talked this morning about how it (Australia’s tournament) has been a bit of a roller-coaster … really proud of the girls and how we showed up today.“

South Africa will face either England or India, defending champions and tournament favourites, in Sunday’s final.”

AAP