ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
(ESPN Cricinfo) – 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, 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 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 epicentre of their most recent finals heartbreak at the men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.
Irrespective of what happens in the grand finale today, the women’s T20 World Cup winner will have a new winner.
Team news: Not many changes expected
There is little indication that both teams will greatly change with their XIs from the semi-final. South Africa have remained unchanged all tournament.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Georgia Plimmer, 2 Suzie Bates, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (captain), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Rosemary Mair, 9 Lea Tahuhu, 10 Eden Carson, 11 Fran Jonas
South Africa (probable): 1 Laura Wolvaardt (captain), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Anneke Bosch, 4 Chloe Tryon, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Sune Luus, 6 Annerie Dercksen, 8 Nadine de Klerk, 9 Sinao Jafta (wk), 10 Nonkululeko Mlaba, 11 Ayabonga Khaka
Pitch and conditions: Spin to win
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.