The stage is all set for the summit clash of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup with South Africa Women (SA-W) taking on New Zealand Women (NZ-W) in the final to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 20, 2024. Both these sides are from different groups, with both finishing second in their respective groups. While the White Ferns have been the runners-up of the first two editions, the Proteas lost in last year’s edition after reaching the final stage.
New Zealand (0.312) and South Africa (0.636) had the least win-loss ratio among the 10 participants in the World Cup cycle coming into the tournament. But the results, or the lack thereof, didn’t faze them despite the flak both copped. Australia’s four-peat now a piped dream, a new T20 champion is confirmed. However, for both teams this shot at the elusive silverware means more than just realizing a dream. It’s a vindication of their faith in the oft thrown around cricketing cliche called the processes.
The disappointment of a home World Cup stings harder than most, and no two teams know the hurt better than New Zealand and South Africa who have, against all odds and admittedly in utmost shock, made it to Sunday’s summit clash in Dubai.
SA-W vs NZ-W : Previous Performances
South Africa Women have been dominant while chasing while it’s the opposite for New Zealand Women while speaking about this year’s edition. It will be an intriguing match to witness, even for neutrals, as there will be a guaranteed fresh winner this time around. New Zealand Women get a day less to regroup and prepare themselves, so it remains to be seen how they fare.
New Zealand came into the World Cup on the worst losing streak of 10 games, and were written off before landing in the UAE. By stunning one of the title favourites in their opener on a carefully devised year-long plan, Sophie Devine & Co. all but sealed themselves a passage to the knockouts, where they then slayed the team that last time struck them out of the semis.
For particularly Devine and Bates, who have played each of the nine T20 World Cups to date and finished as bridesmaids in first-two, it’s been an arduous journey back up against a ticking clock.
South Africa, too, were left to pick up the pieces when they botched a chase against Australia in front of a loud and proud capacity Newlands crowd last year, and the growth in the last 18 months under a new leader has been unmissable. The calmness in their approach was on display in the clinical takedown of the Australian attack to avenge the 2023 loss, with a different match-winner putting their hand up in clutch situation.
SA-W vs NZ-W : Head to Head
New Zealand and South Africa have never crossed paths in a T20 World Cup knockout before, but the former leads 3-2 in group encounters. Their rivalry may have been lop-sided before – New Zealand 11-4 South Africa overall – but the record stands at 3-all in their last six completed T20Is.
Matches Played | 16 |
Won by South Africa Women | 4 |
Won by New Zealand Women | 11 |
No Result | 1 |
First-ever Fixture | 10/08/07 |
Most-recent Fixture | 15/10/23 |
SA-W vs NZ-W : Pitch Report
The build-up to the last two major ICC finals was dominated by chatter around the pitch and conditions. In Ahmedabad, at last year’s 50-over World Cup, you didn’t know until a day before the final which surface was going to be used. In Barbados, this June, rain had been predicted all day with the threat of a hurricane – which eventually delayed India’s departure – loomed. There is less drama this time around.
Pitches in Dubai have taken turn, and taking the pace off has been a ploy captains have often stuck by. Pakistan exploited this quite superbly against New Zealand. India realised the perils of playing three seamers when they conceded 160 in their opening game against New Zealand.
The absence of dew has been a reason why spin has been effective. Dew had reduced the toss to a lottery at the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, but its effect has been minimal this time. While temperatures have considerably dropped in the last two weeks, it will still test players’ fitness, especially because evenings continue to be muggy.
As many as 7 of the 11 matches in Dubai have been won by chasing sides, and four out of those results were in the five most recent games played here. Incidentally, they were all night matches. West Indies and South Africa did that in their last games to make it to the semis and final respectively, but New Zealand, on the other hand, have shown the propensity to put runs on the board instead.
The track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will be expected to be well-balanced with both batters and bowlers promised to get some assistance from the pitch. The conditions will assist the spinners, mainly due to the slowness of the track as the game progresses. The big boundaries square of the wicket would be an area targeted for a lot of singles and doubles.
SA-W vs NZ-W : Big Picture : A shot at history for South Africa and New Zealand Women
Some pictures speak more than words can convey. Like Siya Kolisi looking skywards and roaring into the Parisian sky, before lifting last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Like Grant Elliott, a South African by heritage, offering a hand to a crestfallen Dale Steyn after hitting the winning six to seal New Zealand’s final at the 2015 ODI World Cup. Like Katy Perry joining Meg Lanning’s victorious Australian team on the winners’ podium in front of a record 86,174 fans at the MCG in 2020.
Or, more recently, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – standing side by side, like brothers in arms, with the Indian flag, their medals and the World Cup trophy, before walking into the sunset. On Sunday, South Africa and New Zealand will go toe to toe to earn the right to add to the iconic images and moments of the sport, for which one works hard for years, or decades in the case of Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, and Marizanne Kapp.
New Zealand have a shot at glory after 14 years, South Africa their second in two years, having vanquished Australia, the team that broke their hearts on a sparkling Cape Town afternoon last February.
Their journeys to the World Cup final have been somewhat similar. Filled with stunning wins that warmed the hearts. And losses that questioned – with a transition looming – the pathway structures that haven’t exactly been able to replicate the benchmarks set by Australia and England. Which is why their appearance in the summit clash holds out hope for the women’s game and the sport’s expansion.
Dubai has a massive significance for both teams. South Africa lifted their only ever silverware – senior or junior – at a World Cup here in 2014 under Aiden Markram’s captaincy. For New Zealand, this was the epicenter of their most recent finals heartbreak at the men’s T20 World Cup in 2021. Irrespective of what happens in the grand finale on Sunday, the women’s T20 World Cup will have a new winner.
SA-W vs NZ-W : In the spotlight : Sophie Devine and Anneke Bosch
Fourteen years ago in Barbados, Ellyse Perry’s boot intercepted an absolute rocket hit from Sophie Devine to prevent a boundary that would have sent the T20 World Cup final into a Super Over. A generation has come and gone, but Devine has willed herself to fight through the highs and lows. On Sunday, she has a rare opportunity to finish her captaincy career with the ultimate crowning glory.
Anneke Bosch‘s batting until the semi-final had come in for sharp criticism from several quarters as she was striking below a run a ball. The team management was aware of it but continued to back her as they believed a big knock was around the corner. On Thursday, Bosch batted out of her skin to send Australia packing – her unbeaten 74 was a knock full of enterprise and innovation. After a performance for the ages, she will hope for another impactful innings.
SA-W vs NZ-W : Vital Stats that matters
- Bates is set to become the most capped player in women’s internationals, surpassing Mithali Raj’s tally of 333 matches.
- Wolvaardt has overtaken Dane van Niekerk to become South Africa’s highest run scorer at a T20 World Cup.
- New Zealand have lost just one wicket in the powerplay in this tournament.
- Amelia Kerr’s 12 wickets at this T20 World Cup are the third-most by a bowler at a single edition. Two wickets on Sunday will take her past Anya Shrubsole and Megan Schutt’s joint record.
- Bosch’s 74 not out in the semi-final is the highest individual score of the tournament so far.
- Sophie Devine is 43 away from reaching 10,000 runs in women’s T20s
- Laura Wolvaardt is 45 away from completing 2000 runs for South Africa in women’s T20Is
SA-W vs NZ-W : Team News
South Africa : After a day’s complete rest, South Africa turned an optional session to a full-blown training on the eve of the final. Fully fit and available squad to pick from, but they might just stick to the same XI that won them the semifinal.
South Africa Probable XI: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk.), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka
New Zealand : New Zealand called off their match-eve training having just played their semifinal on Friday. They also have a fully fit and available squad, and could stick to the winning combination.
New Zealand Probable XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (C), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk.), Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas
SA-W vs NZ-W : Probable Top Performers from SA-W vs NZ-W
Probable Best Batter: Tazmin Brits
Despite her rate of scoring being considerably lesser than the rest of the others who have been high amongst the runs, Brits stands tall at second position. The top-order batter will be of a critical role when it comes to assisting her skipper while building the innings in the powerplay and beyond.
Probable Best Bowler: Nonkululeko Mlaba
The left-arm orthodox is expected to play a crucial role when it comes to her quota. She has been precise with her lengths throughout the tournament. The angle she provided while coming around-across has been invaluable for the team.
SA-W vs NZ-W : Match Prediction
Scenario 1
South Africa Women win the toss and opt to bat first.
Powerplay Score: 35-45
SA-W: 135-155
South Africa Women win the match.
Scenario 2
New Zealand Women win the toss and opt to bat first.
Powerplay Score: 25-35
NZ-W: 120-140
South Africa Women win the match.