Who: South Africa vs New Zealand
What: Last, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
When: Sunday, October 20, 6pm (14:00 GMT)
Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text protection starts at 10:30 GMT
Whatever the lead to Dubai on Sunday, there will be a brand-new name on the prize when New Zealand line up versus South Africa in the last of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Australia’s supremacy for many years, winning 6 of the 8 previous competitions, has actually limited the chances for anybody else. Just England, in the inaugural competition of 2009, and West Indies in 2016 have actually seen them off. The Australians have actually likewise appeared in 7 of the 8 finals– not to be this time after South Africa’s dominant semifinal success on Thursday.
It assures to be a fitting ending to a competitors that has actually produced some exceptional– and some middling– cricket after it was changed at brief notification to the United Arab Emirates following political discontent in Bangladesh where it was because of occur.
Apart from bringing brand-new interest to the females’s video game, Sunday’s last will likewise pit the 2 sides that have actually played the canniest and most brave cricket throughout the competitors. Unlike others, they have likewise mainly held their catches, although the White Ferns did make life more uncomfortable on their own in their semifinal win versus the West Indies by dropping Deandra Dottin two times. Very few groups get away with that.
After making simply 128-9, which even on a sluggish Sharjah pitch felt 10 to 15 runs short, the Kiwis protected that overall magnificently versus a batting lineup which, as England discovered to their pain in their winner-takes-all group match, takes no detainees.
Amelia Kerr, the leading wicket-taker for the competition with 12, and Eden Carson bowled fantastically, leading skipper Sophie Devine to look optimistically towards the last. “We are truly delighted about the last. We have absolutely nothing to lose which is a terrific area to be,” stated Devine who remained in the group that lost to Australia by 3 runs in the 2010 last, the latter of New Zealand’s 2 previous finals. “We are going to win this thing now.”
She is more than mindful, nevertheless, of the risks provided by a South African side that went close in 2015, losing to Australia by 19 runs in the last in Cape Town. The Proteas likewise bowled the White Ferns out for 67 because edition to win by 65 runs in their group-stage encounter.
“They are an extraordinary side,” stated Devine, choosing captain Laura Wolvaardt, the evergreen all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and number 3 batter Anneke Bosch, whose spectacular 74 not out led South Africa to their eight-wicket win over the Australians in Thursday’s semifinal.
“Laura leads them from the front,” she stated. “Kapp is among the very best gamers worldwide (and) Bosch in the video game versus Australia was outstanding. We have to focus on ourselves, and hope the cricketing gods are on our side as well.”
The South Africans have actually likewise grown in the last 12 months with that trio of gamers at the leading edge of the batting while Nonkululeko Mlaba, equivalent second-highest wicket-taker with 10, has actually led the bowling attack with strong support, specifically from Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka.
“I’m simply extremely pleased with everybody and the group and simply the manner in which we approached this universe Cup and how we’ve played throughout,” stated Bosch after her match-winning knock. “I believe we sort of stated we have not played our finest video game yet and most likely still have not. Ideally we’re leaving it for the finals now.”
South Africa vs New Zealand: Head-to-head record
The groups have actually dealt with each other 15 times in T20 matches considering that 2005. South Africa delighted in an 8-7 benefit over New Zealand because time.
South Africa’s finest outcome at T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2023
New Zealand’s finest outcome at T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2009, 2010
Type guide: South Africa
South Africa storm into the last as the only group to have actually beaten Australia this year. When they bowled out the champs for 149 in a one-day worldwide in February, and then in Thursday’s semifinal.
The Proteas have actually lost one video game in the competition and won an away T20 series versus Pakistan.
Last 5 matches: W L W
Kind guide: New Zealand
The White Ferns opened their World Cup project with a win over pre-tournament favourites India, and closed their group stage by knocking them out with a win over Pakistan. Their only loss in the competition came versus the side South Africa beat in the very first semifinal, the safeguarding champs Australia.
Last 5 matches: W L W
Toss and pitch conditions
Groups winning the toss have actually picked to bat initially in 5 of the 9 video games played in Dubai throughout this competition with the heat most likely impacting the choice.
South Africa, having actually won the toss and fielded, bring the understanding of Thursday’s win versus Australia into the match.
India’s 172-3 win versus Sri Lanka stays the greatest overall at the location although it has actually likewise produced a variety of low-scoring encounters.
Weather report
Heat will continue to contribute in the last in spite of the night start. The temperature level will hover at about 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), and the projection for 50 percent humidity will make the conditions hot and sticky for the gamers.
Group news: South Africa
South Africa are not anticipated to make any modifications to the side that sealed their area in the last with a success versus Australia.
Team: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
Group news: New Zealand
New Zealand have actually been spared from significant injuries to their usual-playing XI and are anticipated to field the exact same side that beat West Indies in the semifinal.
Team: 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.