ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Final: ‘Resilient’ New Zealand and ‘Determined’ South Africa Vie for Maiden title

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.