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October 20, 2024
Both teams have followed similar paths to reach this point, but on Sunday, one will experience the joy of victory while the other will face disappointment.
Consider Siya Kolisi, looking skyward and celebrating as he lifted the Rugby World Cup last year. Or Grant Elliott, a South African by birth, comforting a devastated Dale Steyn after hitting the winning six to secure New Zealand’s victory in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Think of Katy Perry joining Meg Lanning’s victorious Australian team on the podium, celebrating in front of a record crowd of 86,174 at the MCG in 2020. More recently, we saw Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma standing together, proudly displaying the Indian flag, their medals, and the World Cup trophy, before walking into the sunset.
On Sunday, South Africa and New Zealand will clash in a match that could add to the sport’s iconic moments. For players like Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Marizanne Kapp, this is the culmination of years, even decades, of hard work. New Zealand has a chance for glory after 14 years, while South Africa aims for their second title in two years, having overcome Australia, the team that defeated them in a heartbreaking loss last February.
Both teams’ journeys to the World Cup final have been marked by impressive victories and challenging defeats. These setbacks have raised questions about their development systems, which struggle to match the standards set by Australia and England. However, their presence in the final gives hope for the growth of women’s cricket and the sport as a whole.
Dubai holds special significance for both teams. South Africa secured their only World Cup title here in 2014 under Aiden Markram’s captaincy. For New Zealand, it was the site of their most recent final heartbreak at the men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, the women’s T20 World Cup will have a new champion.
Read More: India Showcases Batting Prowess Before Falling Apart, Setting New Zealand a Target of 107
New Zealand WWWLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
South Africa WWWLW
Fourteen years ago in Barbados, Ellyse Perry made a crucial play by intercepting a powerful shot from Sophie Devine, preventing a boundary that could have sent the T20 World Cup final into a Super Over. Since then, a whole generation of players has come and gone, but Devine has persevered through both the highs and lows of her career. On Sunday, she has a unique chance to cap off her captaincy with the ultimate achievement.
Anneke Bosch faced intense criticism for her batting leading up to the semi-final, as she was scoring less than a run a ball. Despite this, the team management stood by her, believing that a big performance was just around the corner. On Thursday, Bosch proved them right by delivering an outstanding innings that knocked Australia out of the tournament. Her unbeaten 74 runs showcased her creativity and skill, and now she hopes to deliver another impactful performance in the final.
Read more Latest Cricket News
Both teams are likely to stick with their lineups from the semi-finals, with little indication of major changes. South Africa has remained unchanged throughout the tournament.
New Zealand’s probable XI:
South Africa’s probable XI:
The lead-up to the last two major ICC finals was filled with discussions about pitch conditions. For example, at last year’s 50-over World Cup in Ahmedabad, the final pitch was only revealed a day before the match. In June’s final in Barbados, rain was forecasted throughout the day, with a hurricane threat that ultimately delayed India’s departure. This time, however, there is less drama surrounding the pitch.
In Dubai, the pitches have shown some turn, and captains have often opted to bowl slower deliveries. Pakistan effectively used this strategy against New Zealand. India learned the hard way about the risks of playing three seamers when they conceded 160 runs in their opening game against New Zealand.
The lack of dew has made spin bowling more effective this tournament. Dew had turned tosses into a gamble during the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, but its impact has been minimal this time around. Although temperatures have dropped significantly over the past two weeks, the evening humidity will still test the players’ fitness.
“Playing that final, we put ourselves behind the eight ball. In such games, you have to be at 200%, and stay calm. We kind of got flustered, we do get flustered at times. But throughout this tournament, we have been calm and clear about how we want to go about things. It shows the growth of this team.”
Allrounder Chloe Tryon on how South Africa have changed from last year’s final
“We’re the grandmas of this team, still standing. Leah [Tahuhu] with her bionic knees, Sophie having dealt with a lot of stuff as captain, and me keeping on going – it’s really a special moment. There have been tough times, we have been through ups and downs, but that we have made the final is special. We look after each other.”
Suzie Bates on New Zealand’s old guard having another crack at glory
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