Over 40,000 fans turned up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group stages, a record for women’s international cricket in South Africa.

The opening match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands Cricket Ground attracted the highest crowd ever for a women’s international match (7736), with the double-header featuring England, India, South Africa and Australia at St George’s Park coming in at a close second with 7588 fans coming through the turnstiles.

It is the first time since South Africa first hosted international cricket that grandstands and grass embankments have been full to cheer on the world’s best cricketers. It has created a wave of excitement for women’s cricket and the remainder of the tournament, which heads into the all-important knock-out phase starting with the first semi-final between Australia and India on Thursday.

“It’s been fantastic to see South Africans coming out in their numbers to support the Proteas and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup,” LOC Board Chairlady, Muditambi Ravele said. “This is the first time that women’s cricket has been presented to the South African public in this manner, many will have watched their first live match ever, it’s exciting to see women’s cricket being celebrated on this global platform. We hope people will fill up Newlands for the semi-finals and the Final.”

Thousands of young girls and boys have been exposed to the world’s best cricketers through the ICC Cricket 4 Good Coaching clinics and through attendances at the group matches held in Cape Town, Paarl and Gqeberha. The exposure will go a long way in inspiring the young girls and boys to take up the sport and to participate at school.

“Our legacy for this Women’s T20 World Cup is to play a part in changing the face of women’s cricket in the country by increasing access and participation in the sport. We have exposed many young cricketers to the pinnacle of women’s sport and we hope all of our efforts will lead to more fans, more players and administrators getting involved in the sport.”

The focus is on Newlands where current champions Australia will go one step further to defending their title when they face India in the first semi-final on Thursday, with South Africa carrying the hopes of a nation when they host England on Friday.

Newlands will have another opportunity to better its record attendance when it hosts the Final on Sunday, 26 February. Tickets for the semi-finals and the final are on sale online here or at the stadium ticket office.