As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 reaches its thrilling climax, cricket fans around the world are eagerly anticipating a blockbuster final between two standout teams: New Zealand and South Africa. Both teams have been exceptional throughout the tournament, and as they prepare for the final showdown, a new World Cup champion is guaranteed.
New Zealand’s Impressive Journey
New Zealand have shown remarkable resilience in this tournament, especially given their tough lead-up. They entered the World Cup on the back of 10 consecutive losses, including a challenging series against England and Australia. However, the White Ferns turned things around when it mattered most, starting with a crucial win against India that set the tone for their campaign. Their captain, Sophie Devine, has been pivotal in leading the team, not just with her performances but also her leadership and unwavering belief in her players.
Devine’s honesty in her assessment of New Zealand’s struggles during the English summer is a testament to her leadership. She mentioned that, despite facing difficult times, they never lost belief in themselves as a strong team. Credit goes to the management, leadership group, and players for persevering through those challenges. In fact, those tough experiences likely made them more resilient and combative, especially during the summer and in the lead-up to the tournament.
That period of self-reflection and challenge seems to have built a stronger, more combative unit. Amelia Kerr has emerged as a standout performer, leading the tournament in wickets after an underwhelming series against England earlier this year. Eden Carson has also impressed with her spin bowling, exploiting conditions that have suited slower bowlers more than the flat pitches they encountered in the English summer.
Their semi-final victory highlighted the depth of the squad and the excellent decision making of Devine, who backed experience when it mattered most. The decision to hand Suzie Bates the ball for the final over, despite her not bowling earlier in the tournament, showed confidence in her players. Brooke Halliday, another player to watch, offers versatility with both bat and ball and could have a key role to play in the final.
South Africa’s Development and Dominance
South Africa, on the other hand, enters the final as arguably the more developed side over the past few years. Laura Wolvaardt’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping this South African team into a well-rounded and formidable unit.
Players like Marizanne Kapp, who brings toughness and resilience to the squad, have been crucial in building a side that thrives on hard work and determination. I interviewed her during the summer, and she spoke about one of her biggest dislikes in cricket: “soft cricket” and “soft cricketers.” She wasn’t just referring to women’s cricket but cricket in general. That mindset of toughness really influences the whole team. They’re resilient, tough, and uncompromising, which has served them extremely well.
South Africa’s semi-final win over Australia was a defining moment in their campaign, giving them a significant boost in self-belief. I believe Bosch played the innings of a lifetime in the semi-final. It’s been the one element that perhaps held them back in previous tournaments, but with that victory, they’ve shown they can beat the very best on the biggest stage.
Key players like Nadine de Klerk, Tazmin Britts, and Ayabonga Khaka have all contributed to this resilient South African side, making them a difficult team to break down.
Dubai’s conditions may offer slightly more for the batters compared to Sharjah, but both teams have a variety of bowling options. New Zealand’s spinners, particularly Amelia Kerr and Carson, will look to exploit any help from the pitch, while South Africa’s pace attack, led by Kapp, will be crucial in providing early breakthroughs.
For New Zealand, this final represents an opportunity they might not have expected after a tough 2024. Their self-belief is high, and they could enter this final with a fearless, nothing to-lose attitude. South Africa, meanwhile, have the experience of a previous final loss, and with the learnings from that heartbreak, they will be determined not to let the opportunity
slip away again.
Both teams have strong leadership, with Sophie Devine and Laura Wolvaardt providing tactical acumen and emotional strength to their respective sides. The final will likely come down to which team can handle the pressure better and take advantage of key moments in the game.
While New Zealand’s journey has been remarkable, South Africa might just edge this contest due to their greater experience in knockout stages and their exceptional performance in the semi-final. The confidence gained from defeating Australia could be the defining factor. However, with New Zealand’s unexpected rise and self-belief, they are more than capable of pulling this one off. It promises to be a thrilling and tightly fought final, with both teams dreaming of lifting their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy.
