New Zealand's players celebrate after wining against West Indies' during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. - AP
DUBAI (AFP): Whatever the result in Dubai on Sunday, there will be a new name on the trophy when New Zealand line up against South Africa in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup.
Australia's dominance over the years, winning six of the eight previous tournaments has restricted the opportunities for anyone else.
Only England, in the inaugural tournament in 2009, and West Indies in 2016 have seen them off.
It promises to be a fitting finale to a competition that has produced some excellent - and some middling - cricket after it was switched at short notice to the United Arab Emirates following political unrest in Bangldesh where it was due to take place.
Apart from bringing new interest to the women's game, Sunday's final will also pit the two sides that have played the canniest and most courageous cricket over the competition.
Unlike others they have also largely held their catches, although the White Ferns did make life more awkward for themselvees in their semi-final win over the West Indies by dropping Deandra Dottin twice. Not many teams get away with that.
After making just 128-9, which even on a slow Sharjah pitch felt 10 to 15 runs short, the Kiwis defended that total superbly against a batting line-up which, as England found to their discomfort in their winner-takes-all group match, that takes no prisoners.
Amelia Kerr, the leading wicket-taker for the tournament with 12, and Eden Carson bowled superbly, leading skipper Sophie Devine to look optimistically towards the final.
"We are really excited about the final. We have nothing to lose and that is a great space to be," said Devine who was in the team that lost to Australia by three runs in the 2010 final, the latter of New Zealand's two previous finals.
"We are going to win this thing now."
- 'Incredible' South Africa -
She is more than aware, however, of the dangers presented by a South African side which went close last year, losing to Australia by 19 runs in the final in Cape Town.
"They are an incredible side," said Devine, picking out captain Laura Wolvaardt, the evergreen all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and number three batter Anneke Bosch whose stunning 74 not out led South Africa to their eight-wicket win over the Australians in Thursday's semi-final.
"Laura leads them from the front," she said. "Kapp is one of the best players in the world (and) Bosch in the game against Australia was superb.
"But we have to focus on ourselves, and hope the cricketing gods are on our side as well."
The South Africans have also grown in the last 12 months with that trio of players at the forefront of the batting while Nonkululeko Mlaba, equal second highest wicket-taker with 10, has led the bowling attack with strong backing, especially from Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka.
"I'm just incredibly proud of everyone and the team and just the way that we approached this whole World Cup and how we've played throughout," said Bosch after her match-winning knock.
"I think we kind of said we haven't played our best game yet and probably still haven't. But hopefully we're leaving it for the finals now." - AFP
