KUALA LUMPUR: Australia will face South Africa in the Under-19 women's T20 World Cup semi-finals despite a 12-run defeat to Sri Lanka in their final Super Six Group 1 match at YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi on Wednesday.
Australia finished second in Group 1 behind defending champions India, who will meet Group 2 runners-up England in the other semi-final.
Both matches will take place at Bayuemas Oval in Klang on Friday.
Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, posted 99-8 in their 20 overs. Australia, fourth-place finishers in the 2023 edition in South Africa, were held to 87-8.
Sri Lanka's Limansa Thilakaratne was named Player of the Match after scoring six runs off six balls and taking one wicket from four overs.
Despite the win, Sri Lanka finished third in the group and missed out on the semi-finals.
Australian captain Lucy Hamilton said her team will work on their weaknesses ahead of Friday's knockout match.
"It was a good learning experience against Sri Lanka. We will leave this defeat behind and work on our batting before the semi-finals," she told icc-cricket.com.
In Group 2, Nigeria secured third place with a six-run victory over Ireland at the same venue.
Ireland, who finished bottom of the group with one point from four matches, won the toss and opted to field.
Nigeria set a total of 94-7 before restricting Ireland to 88 all out in 18.4 overs, with eight balls remaining.
Nigeria's Lilian Ude was named Player of the Match after scoring 12 runs from 11 deliveries and taking three wickets from four overs.
Fixtures
Semi-finals
Friday
South Africa v Australia (10.30am), India v England (2.30pm).
* Both matches at Bayuemas Oval, Klang
** Final on Feb 2 (2.30pm) at Bayuemas Oval