WHO: South Africa vs New Zealand
That: Ultimate, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024
When: Sunday, October 20, 6:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. GMT)
Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
How to follow: Al Jazeera's live text coverage begins at 10:30 GMT
Whatever the result in Dubai on Sunday, there will be a new name on the trophy when New Zealand takes on South Africa in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup.
Australia's dominance over the years, winning six of the previous eight tournaments, has restricted opportunities for others. Only England, in the inaugural tournament in 2009, and the West Indies, in 2016, dispatched them. The Australians have also appeared in seven of the eight finals, but were unable to do so this time after South Africa's dominant victory in Thursday's semi-finals.
It promises to be a fitting finale to a competition that has produced excellent (and somewhat mediocre) cricket after it was moved at short notice to the United Arab Emirates following political unrest in Bangladesh, where it was due to take place.
As well as bringing new interest to women's football, Sunday's final will also pit the two teams that have played the most astute and brave cricket during the competition. Unlike others, they have also largely maintained their catches, although the White Ferns made life more uncomfortable in their semi-final win against the West Indies by bowling Deandra Dottin twice. Not many teams get their way.
After scoring just 128-9, which even on a slow Sharjah pitch felt 10-15 runs short, the Kiwis defended that whole magnificently against a batting line-up that, as England discovered to their discomfort in their group match in winner-take-all, take-no-prisoners.
Amelia Kerr, the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 12, and Eden Carson bowled superbly, prompting captain Sophie Devine to look optimistically at the final. “We are very excited about the last. We have nothing to lose and that's a great space to be in,” said Devine, who was on the team that lost to Australia by three runs in the 2010 final, the last of New Zealand's two previous finals. “We are going to win this now.”
However, he is more than aware of the dangers posed by a South African team that came close last year, losing to Australia by 19 runs in the final in Cape Town. The Proteas also defeated the White Ferns by 67 in that edition to win by 65 runs in their group stage match.
“They are an incredible team,” Devine said, singling out captain Laura Wolvaardt, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and number three batsman Anneke Bosch, whose impressive 74 not out led South Africa to their eight-wicket victory over the Australians in the match. Thursday. semifinal.
“Laura leads them from the front,” he said. “Kapp is one of the best players in the world (and) Bosch in the game against Australia was magnificent. But we have to focus on ourselves and hope that the cricket gods are also on our side.”
The South Africans have also grown in the last 12 months with that trio of players leading the batting, while Nonkululeko Mlaba, second highest wicket-taker with 10, has led the bowling attack with strong backing, especially from Kapp and Ayabonga . Poop.
“I'm incredibly proud of everyone and the team and the way we approached this whole World Cup and how we've played throughout the whole process,” Bosch said after the game-winning shot. “I think we said we haven't played our best game yet and we probably still haven't. But let's hope that now we leave it for last.”
South Africa vs New Zealand: head-to-head record
The teams have met 15 times in T20 matches since 2005. South Africa enjoyed an 8-7 lead over New Zealand in that time.
South Africa's best result in the T20 World Cup
Runners-up: 2023
New Zealand's best result in the T20 World Cups
Runners-up: 2009, 2010
Forms Guide: South Africa
South Africa enters the final as the only team to have beaten Australia this year. First, when they bowled out the champions for 149 in a one-day international in February, and then in Thursday's semi-final.
The Proteas lost one game in the tournament and won an away T20 series against Pakistan.
Last five games: WWWLW
Forms Guide: New Zealand
The White Ferns opened their World Cup campaign with a win over pre-tournament favorites India and closed their group stage by eliminating them with a win over Pakistan. Their only loss in the tournament came against the team South Africa defeated in the first semi-final, defending champions Australia.
Last five games: WWWLW
Launch and launch conditions
The teams that won the toss elected to bat first in five of the nine games played in Dubai during this tournament and the warm weather likely affected the decision.
However, South Africa, having won the toss and fielded, brings to the game the knowledge of Thursday's victory against Australia.
India's 172-3 win against Sri Lanka remains the highest total at the venue, although it has also produced a series of low-scoring matches.
Weather forecast
The heat will continue to influence the last despite the night start. The temperature will be around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), and the forecast for 50 percent humidity will make conditions hot and sticky for players.
Team News: South Africa
South Africa are not expected to make any changes to the team that sealed their place in the last with a win against Australia.
Equipment: Laura Wolvaardt (captain, goalkeeper), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder (goalkeeper), Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (goalkeeper), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon
Team News: New Zealand
New Zealand have been spared serious injuries in their routine and are expected to field the same team that beat the West Indies in the semi-final.
Equipment: Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze (goalkeeper), Maddy Inexperienced, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu .