The skipper, who pulled up with a foot injury while running between wickets during Australia's group-stage win against Pakistan last week, had been hoping to be ready to lead her team in a repeat of last year's final, which Australia won in Cape Town.
Instead, Tahlia McGrath will lead the team for a second time in her absence, with Australia fielding the same team that defeated India in their final group match last Sunday.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and decided to insert the Australians at the Dubai Stadium where the champions have played only one match so far in the tournament.
"Same team again," Wolvaardt confirmed at the toss, expressing her confidence in her team after they beat Australia in two white-ball matches at the start of the year. "We want to play our best cricket today."
Teams:
Australia: Beth Mooney (wkt), Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chole Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
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