Kolkata : South Africa and New Zealand are set to face each other in ICC Women’s T20 WC 2024 final and battle it out to touch their maiden titles, as both of them are yet to achieve the ultimate glory, despite coming near multiple times.
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr is the leading wicket taker of the tournament, and the Kiwis played superbly after coming into the tournament losing 10 consecutive T20Is and then coming to the final all the way, led by evergreen skipper Sophie Devine.
“We are really excited about the final. We have nothing to lose and that is a great space to be,” said Devine who was in the team that lost to Australia by three runs in the 2010 final, the latter of New Zealand’s two previous finals. “We are going to win this thing now.”
“They (South Africa) are an incredible side,” said Devine, picking out captain Laura Wolvaardt, the veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and prolific batter Anneke Bosch, whose stunning 74* led South Africa to their 8 wicket win over the dominant Aussies in Semi Final.
“Laura leads them from the front,” she said. “Kapp is one of the best players in the world (and) Bosch in the game against Australia was superb. But we have to focus on ourselves, and hope the cricketing gods are on our side as well.”
South Africa displayed immense dominance, valor, strength in this tournament, with knocking out likes of dominant Australia in semi final and defeating strong West Indies in group stage , making all the way to the finals, led by Laura Wolvaardt, who’s also the leading run scorer of the tournament.
“I’m just incredibly proud of everyone and the team and just the way that we approached this whole World Cup and how we’ve played throughout,” said Bosch after her match-winning knock. “I think we kind of said we haven’t played our best game yet and probably still haven’t. But hopefully we’re leaving it for the finals now”.
VENUE :
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
TIME :
October 20, 7:30 PM IST
South Africa’s Best result at T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2023
New Zealand’s Best result at T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2009, 2010
HEAD TO HEAD :
South Africa and New Zealand have faced each other in 15 T20Is, where New Zealand lead the contest 11-4. In Women’s T20 WC, New Zealand have upper hand with 3-2 advantage in 5 encounters.
CONDITIONS :
Teams winning the toss have chosen to bat first in five of the nine games played in Dubai during this tournament with the hot weather likely affecting the decision.
However, South Africa, having won the toss and fielded, bring the knowledge of Thursday’s win against Australia into the match.
India’s 172-3 win against Sri Lanka remains the highest total at the venue although it has also produced a number of low-scoring encounters. Spin will play a huge role in absence of dew factor.
FORM GUIDE – ROAD TO FINAL :
SOUTH AFRICA :
South Africa apart from losing their 2nd Group Match against England by 7 wickets, won all their Group Matches defeating West Indies, Scotland, Bangladesh. They defeated dominant Australia in the Semi Final and thereby qualified for Final.
NEW ZEALAND :
New Zealand started off the tournament defeating strong Indian side by 58 runs. Despite losing to Australia in 2nd Match by 60 runs, they won all their remaining Matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They won against a star studded strong West Indies side in Semi Final and qualified for the final.
SQUADS :
SOUTH AFRICA :
Laura Wolvaardt (captain, wicketkeeper), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder (wicketkeeper), Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wicketkeeper), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon.
NEW ZEALAND :
Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze (wicketkeeper), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
