By: Elena Roopchansingh 21 October, 2024
We’ve come down to this. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup culminates in Dubai between South Africa and New Zealand. Two teams, neither has ever won the tournament. A new team on the podium, a new winner to be added to the history books at the conclusion of the game.
At the semi final stage South Africa knocked out defending champions Australia while New Zealand held their nerve to beat West Indies. Consecutive final appearances for South Africa who were runners up in 2023, New Zealand haven’t made a final since 2010. Anthems sung with pride. Passion etched on the faces of these players. History on the line. All to play for.
South Africa won the toss and decided to field. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer walked to the crease and Marizanne Kapp at the top of her mark ready. Powerplay is the time to set the foundation for the innings and New Zealand made their intent clear. They lost their first wicket inside the powerplay with the score at 16, Ayabonga Khaka having Plimmer caught by Sune Luus at mid-off. New Zealand were attacking in the powerplay taking it to South Africa scoring 43. Straight after though South Africa took the second wicket of Suzie Bates being bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba for 32. Sophie Devine then came to the crease but not for too long. A crucial review on the insistence of Nadine de Klerk had Devine trapped lbw for a small score of 6. That brought Brooke Halliday and Amelia Kerr together for a partnership that bolstered New Zealand to a commanding total. Their partnership was 57 off 44 balls. Halliday with 38 off 28 and Kerr scored 43 off 38. New Zealand scored 48 in the last 5 overs with their final score of 158.
No side has chased 150 and it was thought any score in excess of 140 runs would put the chasing team under pressure. With scoreboard and match pressure it always feels like more than what it actually is. After being put in to bat, New Zealand did an incredible job.
South Africa started well in the powerplay giving them the start that they needed with a score of 47 without any loss of wickets. It was the only powerplay in this tournament where New Zealand had not picked up a wicket but it only took the over after the powerplay to gain their first wicket. Fran Jonas had Tazmin Brits caught at long-on for 17. With pressure already building and the required run rate climbing South Africa lost two quick wickets in one over. Laura Wolvaardt caught at cover off the bowling of Kerr followed by Anneke Bosch after a review showing she had a fine nick on UltraEdge. Kerr, who has had an outstanding tournament, taking two wickets in one over. South Africa lost another two wickets in exactly two balls in the last ball of the twelfth over and first of the thirteenth over with Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk falling victims to Eden Carson and Rosemary Mair. New Zealand very much in the driver’s seat at this stage. At the sixteenth over South Africa needed 59 runs in 4 overs, a mammoth task with four wickets left. Their demise eventually came and New Zealand emerged victorious.
What a glorious way to finish the tournament for veterans Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates. Legends of the New Zealand setup and the game in general. Emotions erupted as they embraced and soaked up the glory of becoming world champions. New Zealand have not had an easy ride coming into the tournament, on the back of ten consecutive losses but they put that behind them with a clean slate when they came up against India in their opening match. The confidence and belief in themselves they would’ve gained after beating India helped them to kick on from there only losing to Australia. They’ve had a great mix of younger players like Georgia Plimmer and Eden Carson coming to the fore proving their mettle. Standout player for the tournament was none other than Amelie Kerr taking a record 15 wickets through the tournament and making valid contributions with the bat.
Commiserations to South Africa who had a great tournament, just fell short at the final hurdle. Heartbreak for a fantastic team, it was just not meant to be this time for the rainbow nation. They too have got some exciting players led by their captain Laura Wolvaardt, the skillful orthodox bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba and the ever dependable Marizanne Kapp.
This final inevitably brought ecstasy and heartbreak. It’s the duality of the pinnacle of a World Cup. It’s the glory of becoming champions mirrored with the disappointment of going home thinking what might have been. Not many would’ve named New Zealand as the team with their hands on the trophy at the end of this World Cup but few would argue that they aren’t deserving.