South Africa and New Zealand Women Cricket Teams Set for Historic T20 World Cup Final
This Sunday, the world will witness a thrilling contest as South Africa and New Zealand Women Cricket Teams go head-to-head in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final. Both teams have traveled long, difficult roads to get here, and now, one of them will leave the field with the ultimate prize. The other will face the bitter taste of defeat, but regardless of the outcome, both teams have already created lasting memories and achieved remarkable milestones.
The Big Picture: A Shot at History
Some moments in sports are simply unforgettable. They leave a mark in the minds and hearts of fans worldwide, forever etched into the fabric of the game. Who could forget Siya Kolisi looking up at the sky and letting out a triumphant roar as he lifted the Rugby World Cup in Paris last year? Or the image of Grant Elliott, a South African by heritage, offering a hand to a heartbroken Dale Steyn after hitting the winning six to seal New Zealand’s place in the 2015 ICC men’s ODI World Cup final?
Other unforgettable scenes include pop star Katy Perry standing on the winners’ podium alongside Australia’s victorious women’s cricket team in front of a record-breaking crowd of 86,174 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020. Even more recently, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, side by side like brothers in arms, proudly holding the Indian flag and the World Cup trophy, their medals gleaming as they walked off into the sunset.
Now, it’s South Africa and New Zealand’s turn to create their own unforgettable moment. On Sunday, they will battle it out for the right to add their image to the long list of iconic moments in cricket history. For players like Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Marizanne Kapp, this final represents the culmination of years, if not decades, of hard work, determination, and sacrifice.
For New Zealand Women Cricket Team, it’s been 14 long years since they last had a shot at a major international title. For South Africa, it’s their second consecutive final in just two years, having beaten the team that broke their hearts on a sparkling afternoon in Cape Town last February—none other than Australia.
A Journey Marked by Ups and Downs
Both teams have experienced journeys filled with stunning victories that inspired fans and difficult losses that forced them to reevaluate their strategies. As both nations navigate a transition in their cricketing structures, they have struggled to match the consistency set by dominant teams like Australia and England. Nevertheless, the fact that they’ve made it to the final is proof that the women’s game is expanding and reaching new heights. Their presence in this ultimate contest is a sign of progress and a beacon of hope for the growth of the sport globally.
Dubai has special significance for both teams. For South Africa, this city holds memories of their only major World Cup win in 2014, when Aiden Markram captained the team to victory. For New Zealand, Dubai was the scene of one of their most painful finals defeats in recent years—the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup.
But no matter the outcome of Sunday’s final, one thing is certain: the women’s T20 World Cup will have a new champion, a team that will lift the trophy for the first time.
Form Guide
Both teams come into the final with strong records. In their last five T20Is, both South Africa and New Zealand have won four and lost just one, making this an even contest that could go either way.
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | WWWLW |
| South Africa | WWWLW |
In the Spotlight: Sophie Devine and Anneke Bosch
Sophie Devine has been a standout player for New Zealand for many years. Fourteen years ago, during the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, she was inches away from glory. Ellyse Perry’s boot stopped a ball that would have flown to the boundary and sent the final into a Super Over. That narrow miss left a lasting mark on Devine, who has since fought through ups and downs, highs and lows. Now, she has the opportunity to finish her captaincy career with the ultimate prize: the T20 World Cup trophy.
On the South African side, Anneke Bosch has been the subject of much scrutiny. Her slow strike rate leading up to the semi-final drew criticism from many quarters, with some questioning her place in the team. Yet the South African management stood by her, confident that a big knock was just around the corner. And they were right. In the semi-final against Australia, Bosch delivered a performance for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 74 that sent the reigning champions packing. She will be looking to make another big impact in the final.
| Player Spotlight | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|
| Sophie Devine (NZ) | 14 years since the first T20 World Cup final |
| Anneke Bosch (SA) | 74* in the semi-final vs Australia |
Team News: Little Change Expected
Heading into the final, both teams are expected to remain largely unchanged from their semi-final line-ups. South Africa, in particular, has kept the same team throughout the tournament, and there’s little reason to believe they will shake things up now.
| New Zealand (Probable XI) | South Africa (Probable XI) |
|---|---|
| Georgia Plimmer | Laura Wolvaardt (capt) |
| Suzie Bates | Tazmin Brits |
| Amelia Kerr | Anneke Bosch |
| Sophie Devine (capt) | Chloe Tryon |
| Brooke Halliday | Marizanne Kapp |
| Maddy Green | Sune Luus |
| Isabella Gaze (wk) | Annerie Dercksen |
| Rosemary Mair | Nadine de Klerk |
| Lea Tahuhu | Sinao Jafta (wk) |
| Eden Carson | Nonkululeko Mlaba |
| Fran Jonas | Ayabonga Khaka |
Pitch and Conditions: Spin to Win
In the lead-up to the last two major ICC finals, much of the conversation centered around the pitch conditions. In last year’s 50-over World Cup final in Ahmedabad, the playing surface wasn’t confirmed until the day before the match. Similarly, in Barbados this past June, there was concern about rain and even the potential for a hurricane, which eventually delayed India’s departure.
Thankfully, this time around, there is less drama surrounding the weather. Dubai’s pitches have generally favored spinners, and teams that slow the pace of the game have often found success. This was evident when Pakistan expertly exploited the conditions to defeat New Zealand. In contrast, India paid the price for fielding too many fast bowlers, allowing New Zealand to score 160 in their opening game.
The absence of dew has made spin bowling even more effective, as opposed to the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where dew played a significant role in determining outcomes. While temperatures have dropped slightly over the last two weeks, the evening conditions remain humid and will likely test the fitness of both teams.
Key Stats and Trivia
- Suzie Bates is set to become the most-capped player in women’s international cricket, surpassing Mithali Raj’s record of 333 matches.
- Laura Wolvaardt has overtaken Dane van Niekerk to become South Africa’s highest run-scorer at a T20 World Cup.
- New Zealand has only lost one wicket during the powerplay in this tournament.
- Amelia Kerr’s 12 wickets are the third-most by any bowler in a single T20 World Cup edition. Two more wickets in the final will break the record jointly held by Anya Shrubsole and Megan Schutt.
- Anneke Bosch’s unbeaten 74 in the semi-final is the highest individual score in this tournament so far.
Quotes
Chloe Tryon, reflecting on last year’s final, remarked, “Playing that final, we put ourselves behind the eight ball. In such games, you have to be at 200% and stay calm. We got flustered then, but this time, we’ve been clear and calm about our approach. It shows how much we’ve grown as a team.”
Suzie Bates, speaking about New Zealand’s senior players, said, “We’re the grandmas of this team, still standing strong. Leah [Tahuhu] with her bionic knees, Sophie dealing with so much as captain, and me just keeping going. It’s been a tough journey, but making it to the final is really special for us. We look after each other.”
Both teams are ready to make history on Sunday. The battle will be fierce, and the outcome unpredictable, but one thing is for sure: by the end of the day, a new T20 World Cup champion will be crowned.
