Women’s T20 World Cup: Journey to the finals

DUBAI: After beating the West Indies on Friday, New Zealand qualified for the finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup, where they will face off against South Africa.

Let’s take a look back at how these two teams triumphed over the competition to put themselves one win away from glory

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand would win three of their four group stage matches after taking down Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. Skipper Sophie Devine and Georgia Plimmer would have excellent batting performances, scoring half centuries against India and Sri Lanka respectively. Their opponents struggled to find holes in their offense, as New Zealand were never in danger of getting all out in any of these three matches.

On the bowling side, Rosemary Mair would have fantastic performance against India, taking four wickets as India stuggled to find their stroke, instead finding the hands of the New Zealand fielders. Amelia Kerr would put on a great performance against Pakistan, taking three wickets on the way to getting the women in green all out for 56 runs, the lowest total in the tournament. Kerr and Leigh Kasperek would take two wickets each, helping to hold down Sri Lanka to a score of 115.

The Kiwis would face the West Indies in the semi-finals, setting a total of 128 runs, withstanding Deandra Dottin’s assault in which she took four wickets. A combined effort from Suzie Bates, Plimmer, and Isabella Gaze, brought New Zealand to a total they could defend.  And defend they did, as Eden Carson took three vital wickets, allowing New Zealand to win by eight runs.

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The only game that New Zealand lost was against tournament favourites, Australia. After setting a very respectable score of 148 runs despite Kerr’s best efforts, taking four wickets, the Aussies would finish taking out the Kiwis in the last over. New Zealand were all out at 88, nowhere close to the total they were chasing, courtesy of some excellent bowling by Megan Schutt and Annabel Sutherland.

SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand didn’t need to worry about facing the domineering Australia again, as South Africa dealt with tournament favourites, taking them out in the semi-finals in an electric upset. It was an emphatic victory, beating the Aussies by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining. Australia’s Beth Mooney would be run out just short of a half century, while Ayabonga Khaka would take two wickets, including Ellyse Perry who had the next highest score for the Aussies.

The real star of the show was Anneke Bosch, who scored the highest total of the tournament with 74 runs off 48 deliveries. Together with skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who was just short of her own half century, the two were able to help South Africa pull off the upset of the tournament.

South Africa would lose only one match in the group stages against England, after Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt scored near half centuries on England’s way to making 125 runs. They had seven wickets to spare at the end of the game, as South Africa’s bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough. Wolvaardt’s would have another near half century in the first innings, but it would all be for naught.

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However, South Africa would get their revenge, beating out England for a semi-final spot thanks to their net run rate, which was higher due to their fantastic performances against Scotland, Bangladesh, and West Indies.

New Zealand face South Africa in the finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday.