As the confetti blows across Newlands and the Aussies pose for photos, the South Africans go on a low-key lap of honour round the crowd.
That’s it from me – a great match, a great competition. Inevitable, deserved, winners in Australia’s female Invincibles – but they had surprise opponents in the final. Young players like Richa Gosh shone, Ireland, Pakistan, inched up the ladder. To Australia, the trophy, but to South Africa, the spoils. May their journey to the final set women’s cricket in Africa on an upwards path. Thanks for reading – good night!
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The Aussies get their medals – what a roll-call of names!
Meg Lanning has her left hand on her hip and her right hand round a microphone:“It is a pretty special effort from the group. We thought it was a good score but we had to bowl well, but the wicket probably wasn’t as good as it was in the semi-final. It was just about enjoying the opportunity, we knew it would be a great atmosphere and we wanted to - when the pressure was on - keep things simple. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, been able to get out and see what this beautiful country has to offer. Its a special group not just the players but the support group who put in the work behind the scenes and also family and friends.”
She walks off, lifts the trophy with her team, champagne explodes – into Perry’s left eye -and the fireworks shoot into the sky.
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And here comes the trophy, to be given to this Australian side, who have now have six – SIX - T20 World Cups under their belts. Three in a row. The greatest women’s side, perhaps, as Tammy Beaumont hinted at, the greatest cricket side ever. Certainly one of the most dominant.
Thirteen and a half thousand people were in Newlands today and they nearly all remain to cheer the South Africans as they collect their runners’ up medals. “I don’t think we ever ever imagined being in the final and the stadium being packed.
“I think we can’t go backwards, we just need to keep growing women’s sport, keep knocking on the door,” says a smiling Luus.
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Player of the tournament: Ash Gardner
More accolades for this young superstar, 10 wickets and 110 runs at 36.66 in the tournament. “It was all about putting my team in winning positions. Words cannot describe how proud I am of the groups. WE talk about evolving as individuals and growing globally. It is so much fun playing for your country.”
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Player of the match: Beth Mooney
Beth Mooney gets the trophy for her 74 not out. “I’m glad I can fake it because I certainly wasn’t calm out there. The crowd were very impressive and there weren’t many cheering for us. I was a bit tough on myself, … thought I hadn’t got enough.. but never judge the wicket till both teams have batted on it.”
Laura Wolvaardt, the World Cup’s leading run scorer: “It has been such an incredible tournament to be a part of. This is my home ground. Tough day, firstly to all the fans who came along today thank you so much for filling Newlands. We got off to not such a great start with the bat and it was tough from then on. The crowd was so wonderful, it is something that I’ve never really experienced before. I’m really proud of the girls and what we achieved.”
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Huge yellow hugs on the field as the gutted South Africans truck out to shake hands. Chloe Tryon looks distraught. The Aussies radiant, the world straightened out as it should be.
“A huge thank you to the crowd for creating such an incredible atmosphere,” says Ellyse Perry to a Newlands that is still full and buzzing.
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AUSTRALIA beat South Africa to win the World Cup by 19 runs!
20th over: South Africa 137-6( de Klerk 8, Jafta 9) Gardner gets the honour of the final over. Jafta and de Klerk dab her this way and that but the banana yellows are everywhere, swarming at the ball. Jafta pulls a single from the final delivery and the World Cup is Australia’s again!
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Key event
19th over: South Africa 130-6( de Klerk 4, Jafta 6) need 157 to win Jafta flings a four, but South Africa can only pick up singles from Schutt – and everyone must go through the motions of the final over: 27 needed.
18th over: South Africa 122-6( de Klerk 2, Jafta 0) need 157 to win With the dynamic Tryon gone, the noise seeps out of Newlands.
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WICKET! Bosch run out (Perry) 1 (South Africa 122-6)
They come back for the second – they have to – but Perry’s throw at square leg is good enough and Healy knocks off the bails to beat a diving Bosch.
WICKET! Tryon b Jonassen 25 (South Africa 121-5)
The last hope is gone as Tryon shapes to pull and the stumps are flattened.
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17th over: South Africa 114-4 ( Tryon 19, de Klerk 1) need 157 to win It’s slipping away now. A couple of boundaries as Tryon smashes the ball back past Schutt’s head, and four byes through Healy. But with Wolvaardt’s departure, they’re down to luck and power. 43 needed from 18 balls.
WICKET! Wolvaardt lbw Schutt 61 (South Africa 109-4)
Schutt’s appeal can be heard half a hermisphere away as Wolvaardt tries to sweep and the ball bananas into her back pad. She reviews – why not? – but the ball is hitting middle and leg.
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16th over: South Africa 104-3 (Wolvaardt 61, Tryon 14) need 157 to win Gardener rolls in, open face, wide eyes. It’s not pretty, floating legside, but South Africa can’t get hold of her . 53 needed from 24 balls. It’s the World Champions v Newlands.
Fifty for Laura Wolvaardt!
15th over: South Africa 98-3 (Wolvaardt 58, Tryon 12) need 157 to win A screaming four through the covers brings Wolvaardt her fifty – she briefly raises her bat to the ecstatic crowd and her teammates. But Brown pulls things back well, and Tryon can’t go full welly on her. But Wolvaardt does – up over Brown’s outstretched hand for four. Ten from the over, 59 needed from 30.
14th over: South Africa 88-3 (Wolvaardt 49, Tryon 11) need 157 to win A brace of singles off Wareham, then Tryon pierces the field, leaping up the pitch and bisecting the two converging fielders at the deep mid wicket boundary. SIX! Wolvaardt down the wicket, flays the bat, eyes on the prize. A wide is cheered to the top of Table Mountain. Fifteen from the over
13th over: South Africa 59-3 (Wolvaardt 41, Tryon 5) need 157 to win McGrath oversteps – just. Wolvaardt gets the free hit and flat bats the ball high into the hands of Perry, who cleverly stays in front of the boundary boards. And another no ball. McGrath marks her run-up out in angry steps. Lanning gives her a pep talk and Wolvaardt drops her front knee and sweeps her high, with the wind, and into the crowd. Fourteen from the over.
12th over: South Africa 59-3 (Wolvaardt 30, Tryon 4) need 157 to win Jonassen now and still no boundary. South Africa need Tryon to hit vertical take off.
11th over: South Africa 53-3 (Wolvaardt 29, Tryon 1) need 157 to win Some nicely played balls off McGrath, but straight to the boundary fielders. It is not enough. The pressure builds and the run-out ensues.
WICKET! Luus run out 2 (South Africa 54-3)
Nightmare. Luus pushes the ball to mid-off and sets off. Wolvaardt doesn’t fancy it – she’s probably right. Musical statues. Luus sacrifices herself .
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10th over: South Africa 52-2 (Wolvaardt 28, Luus 1) need 157 to win Wolvaardt pulls hard and dispatches Wareham along the granny smith grass and over the rope. They take drinks, South African will need ten and a half an over for the rest of the game. Accelerator press needed urgently.
Australia (156-6) v South Africa (52-2) - South Africa have dipped where they needed to push on. Looking like a tough ask from here. pic.twitter.com/nhSeCImpLJ
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 26, 2023
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9th over: South Africa 46-2 (Wolvaardt 23, Luus 0) need 157 to win Gardner again. A wide. Another misfield brings a single. Five singles then the need for a boundary draws Kapp into the big shot. Big wicket.
WICKET! Kapp c Brown b Gardner 11 (South Africa 46-2)
Easy does it, Brown swallows the trifle at short third as Kapp top-edges and has to trudge off
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8th over: South Africa 40-1 (Wolvaardt 20, Kapp 9) need 157 to win SIX! Wolvaardt sweeps the bat through the air and lofts Gardener for six over mid-off.
7th over: South Africa 31-1 (Wolvaardt 12, Kapp 8) Brown again runs in, watched by every iris in Newlands. Kapp’s eyes are iron. Wolvaardt drives four down the ground Kapp picks up four more precision-drilled through cover.
6th over: South Africa 22-1 (Wolvaardt 7, Kapp 4) Kapp picks up four almost immediately through cover off Schutt but at the end of the power play South Africa are well behind the eight ball. The required run rate is over 9 and a half.
5th over: South Africa 17-1 (Wolvaardt 6, Kapp 0) The drought lifts, slightly. They pick off Darcie Brown for a handful of singles. Then the wicket, as a frustrated Brits aims for the rope.
WICKET! Brits c McGrath b Brown 10 (South Africa 17-1)
Brits can’t wait any long, throws the bat and McGrath – darting this way and that – picks it up in the deep.
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4th over: South Africa 13-0 (Wolvaardt 5, Brits 7) Perry, who didn’t have much of a chance with the bat, gets her turn with the ball. The crowd has quietened. Four .dot . balls . South Africa go backwards. Suddenly a mistake in the field, Brits inside edges and Harris can’t get a hand on it at short fine leg and the ball crosses the rope. Seventeen dot balls in the first four overs.
3rd over: South Africa 8-0 (Wolvaardt 5, Brits 2) Darcie Brown gets the nod. I don’t know if it is the kit but Australia’s fielders seem to be in every nook and cranny. Open the cupboard and one will fall out. Superb from Brown, just two singles and half way through the power play the run rate is already nearly 9.
2nd over: South Africa 6-0 (Wolvaardt 4, Brits 1) Gardener in banana yellow squeezes through an over in double quick time. An lbw appeal from the last as Wolvaardt swings to pull and is hit on the back leg. Not out on the field – Australia review…. it is umpire’s call.
South African innings
1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Wolvaardt 4, Brits 0) A misfield at mid-on from the ice-cool Aussies brings four. Schutt briefly tightens her lips (nb KSB).
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The South Africans are on their way out already – here we go!
Australia (156-6) v South Africa - Australia did up the rate at the death, but not perhaps by as much as they'd have wanted. pic.twitter.com/XG7AHPGXzQ
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 26, 2023
South Africa need 157 to win
20th over: Australia 156-6 ( Mooney 74, McGrath 1) Dear girl, events! First South Africa are penalised for their slow over rate by only being allowed three fielders outside the circle. Then Ismail’s first two balls are dispatched for six and four by a pitch-perfect Mooney. NExt Wolvaardt drops Mooney, diving low, but, crucially, keeps her off strike. Perry goes high and is caught, Wareham throws the bat hopelessly and McGrath can only pick up one from the final ball. A good total by Australia, a crucial innings by Mooney, but South Africa go into the break with the wind behind them.
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WICKET! Wareham b Ismail 0 (Australia 155-5)
Brilliant! Wareham launche into a haphazard hay and her stumps are flattened.
WICKET! Perry c Brits b Ismail 7 (Australia 155-5 -)
Heave-ho! Perry swipes at a slower ball and Brits takes the catch at midwicket. No celebration from bowler or fielder.
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19th over: Australia 144-3 ( Mooney 63, Perry 7) Khaka gets the penultimate over. Australia can’t reach the boundary but ten from it including a single from a riccochet off a direct hit from de Klerk. Can South Africa keep them under 150?
@tjaldred Notwithstanding that they're up against actual Australia, South Africa have given themselves half a sniff of a chance here ... #T20WorldCup
— VoiceOfTheMysterons (@Mysteron_Voice) February 26, 2023
They sure have…
Fifty for Beth Mooney!
18th over: Australia 134-3 ( Mooney 56, Perry 5) Vital wicket for Kapp – though the rest of her over is a bit loose, as Perry slams her first ball – a doughnut on a dolly length – over the top for four. Mooney reaches her fifty with a boundary over extra cover, and another four is only cut off by a superb bit of fielding down on the rope by Bosch. Twelve from the over.
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WICKET! Lanning c Tryon b Kapp 10 (Australia 122-4)
Lanning pulls square, but Tryon is waiting. She takes the catch with both hands in mid air. Raises her fists and roars to the crowd.
17th over: Australia 122-3 ( Mooney 49, Lanning 9) Khaka on song, full and accurate. Mooney’s flick drops just short of the deep square leg fielder. Just four from the over as Gardner misses her scoop off the last. South Africa are running one over behind on the timer.
16th over: Australia 118-3 ( Mooney 47, Lanning 9) Mooney is lucky to escape being bowled by Ismail as she tries a scoop and the ball passes her exposed stumps by a whisper. Undaunted, she leaps into the next ball and directs it over backward point for four.
15th over: Australia 110-3 ( Mooney 42, Lanning 6) Mlaba strikes to Newlands’ delight – with Harris not able to kick on. Lanning calmly dispatches her first ball for four, cut with the precision of a gardener trimming a rose.
WICKET! Harris b Mlaba 10 (Australia 103-3)
Kept low, Harris dances down the pitch, misses and is on her way.
Nonkululeko Mlaba. Photograph: Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images
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14th over: Australia 103-2 ( Mooney 41, Harris 10) Harris pumps the air with a huge smile as she drives Tryon through midwicket for four. As well she might, 11 from the over.
Australia messing with their batting order is a sign that South Africa are putting them under pressure - they know they need to smash some quick runs here, hence sending in Gardner and now Grace Harris. #T20WorldCup https://t.co/gS9TxwLErV
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) February 26, 2023
13th over: Australia 92-2 ( Mooney 38, Harris 2) Consecutive fours from Mooney who first scoops de Klerk, then rockets her through mid-off. Big crowd atmosphere as a Mexican wave wings round Newlands.
12th over: Australia 83-2 ( Mooney 30, Harris 1) A huge wicket, as Gardener tries to ping Tryon out of the ground but goes upwards, not outwards, and Luus patiently waits at long off.
WICKET! Gardner c Luus b Tryon 29 (Australia 82-2)
Luus waits, waits, for the ball to fall from the heavens. She holds on with both hands and Tryon charges towards her.
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11th over: Australia 79-1 ( Mooney 27, Gardner 29) A nice over from Kapp, spoilt by a leg-side wide fluffed by a hasty Jafta, and Australia run. Jafta not filling me with confidence, nor, by the look of it, Kapp.
10th over: Australia 73-1 ( Mooney 25, Gardner 27) The dog finds a crisp hidden behind a cushion and crunches happily just as Mooney cover drives Khaka for four. Three singles follow, before Gardner gives a might swipe at the final delivery before DRINKS, and misses.
On the rope, Luus, sunglasses down, applauds her bowler.
Sune Luus is noticeably carrying herself with much more confidence today as captain. Talked yesterday about how tough it's been, being seen as the stand-in / temporary skipper, but it feels like this is "her" team now. #T20WorldCup
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) February 26, 2023
9th over: Australia 66-1 ( Mooney 19, Gardner 26) De Klerk leaks runs at last. Gardner stands and delivers, two sixes over long off, flowing bat and the run rate creeps over seven.
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8th over: Australia 53-1 ( Mooney 18, Gardner 14) A nod to Table Mountain, in her glory. And the South African fielding which is up a notch from Friday. But back to back boundaries by Gardner off Mlaba give Australia their mojo back.
7th over: Australia 41-1 ( Mooney 16, Gardner 4) At the end of the power play, I think South Africa would take 36-1. Here comes de Klerk, who bowled so well against England, giving them nothing. Australia can’t get her away either. She’s tricky, inscrutable. Newlands roar – the noise swooping, enveloping.
6th over: Australia 36-1 ( Mooney 10, Gardner 0) Back to Ismail. Gardner, promoted from No.4, stands at the non-striker’s end. South Africa like hunters in the field, creeeping, pouncing. Mooney can’t get a run, ducks a last-ball bouncer and that’s a maiden.
5th over: Australia 36-1 ( Mooney 10, Gardner 0) Healy shows no respect to her old Sydney sixers teammate, edging her first ball for four. The over doesn’t get much better when Kapp oversteps and Mooney smacks the free hit for four. But then, from nowhere, the wicket! Kapp bends her knees, clenches her fists and roars.
WICKET! Healy c de Klerk b Kapp 18 (Australia 36-1)
The breakthrough! Healy is done by a ball that bounces higher than she expects and she delivers it to extra cover
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4th over: Australia 25-0 ( Healy 13, Mooney 10) Khaka picks up where she left off against England, good length and testing. Mooney charges at her and misses, but a flick to the last ball brings four and the Aussies move towards cruise control.
100 - @AusWomenCricket's Meg Lanning is the first player to captain a side 100 times in T20Is (men's and women's); Lanning's win rate of 80.3% so far (P99 W75 L18 T1 NR5) is the third highest among the 58 players with 30+ games as captain in T20Is. Trailblazer.#T20WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/UFNXIxI3vX
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) February 26, 2023
3rd over: Australia 18-0 ( Healy 11, Mooney 5) The emotional Kapp rolls in for her first over and the first delivery runs wide. Mooney drives just short of backward point, and swings wilfully – but misses- at another. But picks up four through point.
2nd over: Australia 12-0 ( Healy 10, Mooney 1) Oooof, a short wide one from Ismail sits up and begs to be griddled to the rope. Healy obliges. A very quick single keeps the fielders on their toes. Then an lbw shout against Healy . Luus runs in to consult her bowler and wicketkeeper and South Africa go for it. It doesn’t feel out, and it isn’t – floating legside.
Australia usually bowl when they win the toss in T20s - over the past 3 years, they chose to bat only 31% of the times they won the toss. But batting worked for them in the semi-final, so if it ain't broke... don't fix it!
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 26, 2023
Australian innings
1st over: Australia 5-0 ( Healy 5, Mooney 0) Mlaba has the first over. The first is a dot, the second is swept easily by Healy for four. Three more dots follow, each one cheered by the crowd. A single polishes off a calm first over.
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Advance Australia Fair first – the Australians stand arm in arm and belt it out. Then the ballet lesson chords before the spine-tingling Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Marizanne Kapp weeps.
Here come the flags, the mascots and the players at the first women’s sporting event in South Africa that has been a sell out.
Tammy Beaumont, who, incidentally, is an excellent addition to the commentary pantheon, is full of admiration for how Australia rejuvinate their sides, bringing in new players almost seamlessly. Four players have been brought in since Australia won the last T20 World Cup.
Raf Nicholson is at windless Newlands, heat 26 degree perfection:
“Music is thumping around the ground, groups of schoolgirls have just run out unfurling flags of all competing nations in a performance which was rehearsed earlier today. We’ve now got some dancers baton twirling on the outside of the pitch, and fireworks going off. Lots of South Africa shirts and flags - and a few Australian ones. Spidercam is in action, (as it was for both semis).”
South Africa XI
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus (c), Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Australia XI
Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
Australia have won the toss and will bat!
“We expect the wicket to be same throughout the game,” says a poker-faced Lanning. Luus confirms that she would have batted too. Both captains confirm unchanged teams from the semi-finals.
Do send me your thoughts and, if you’re in Newlands, a taste of the atmosphere. I’m @tjaldred or tanya.aldred.freelance@guardian.co.uk
This makes my heart sing:
Dec 11, 2022🏏 #INDvAUS, 2nd T20I
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) February 25, 2023
Feb 25, 2023🏏 #SAvAUS #T20WorldCup final eve
Appetite for women's cricket in recent months 🎟️
📷 @ghosh_annesha pic.twitter.com/b3zvIZ81tn
An expert Australian eye from Megan Maurice:
This is so good to see!
Queues already building to get into Newlands #T20WorldCup #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/ZBMMKQJPZl
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) February 26, 2023
And a beautiful read by Firdose Moonda on Ubuntu and this diverse South African side.
Preamble
Hello! With the clock ticking down, roll up, tune in, spread out, for the women’s T20 World Cup final between Australia and South Africa. It’s been a humdinger of a competition, crescendoing in those two epic semi-finals: one which Australia dragged back by the collar, the other where South Africa whipped off the tablecloth while keeping all the crockery in place.
Australia – it is no use pretending otherwise- are firm favourites. They’ve never lost to South Africa in at T20 game, let alone in a World Cup. They’ve been defeated in only three T20 matches since they clinched the last T20 title in 2020 in Melbourne – just before Covid changed the world. But they might have lost last week, had India had shown a little more steel in the field and Harmanpreet had not been run out in her prime.
And that vulnerability, that keyhole of weakness, is what South Africa must hold onto. Their own confidence is celestial after beating England, Newlands is a sell out, they have a firecracker bowling attack led by the formidable Shabnim Ismail. Tazmin Brits is the fielder of the tournament, Marizanne Kapp has “big game” inked into her soul. And the cricket neutrals of the world are at their shoulder.
From their shock-loss in the opening match to the final. Mighty oaks from little acorns grown.
Play starts at 1pm GMT, please join us.
