Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia provides one other chapter to superb legacy

At the St. George’s Park in Gqeberha forward of their conflict in opposition to Bangladesh within the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Ashleigh Gardner, Megan Schutt and Kim Garth sat glued to a mobile-phone display screen to look at the public sale for the inaugural Women’s Premier League. The eighth version of the World Cup had received underway three days earlier, however all eyes had been on this public sale in Mumbai. “It is the elephant in the room,” admitted Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, at a press convention.

Australians had been expectedly in enormous demand on the public sale, and theirs was the workforce to beat on the World Cup. They had up to now gained all of the T20 World Cup crowns on provide besides in 2009, when England gained, and in 2016, when underdog West Indies sprang a shock in Kolkata.

ALSO READ – Eight groups to mechanically qualify for 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup

Before the World Cup, Australia had suffered a uncommon loss, to India within the Super Over in Navi Mumbai in December 2022. That defeat was within the second of a five-match collection; the scoreline then learn 1-1. It went on to win its subsequent three matches to win the collection 4-1, underlining its supremacy but once more. It was after clean-sweeping Pakistan at residence that Meg Lanning’s workforce flew to South Africa for the marquee occasion.

Invincible

Lanning had taken a break from cricket after the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham — the place Australia predictably grabbed the gold medal — earlier than returning to steer the workforce for the collection in opposition to Pakistan. She has been good as a pacesetter, in addition to being the mainstay of her workforce’s batting group.

It expectedly breezed by the league stage, posting wins over New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa to arrange a semifinal conflict with India. Harmanpreet Kaur’s ladies bumped into the Aussies within the final 4 as a result of they completed second of their group, behind England. India misplaced to England by 11 runs regardless of a late assault from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh (47 n.o., 34b). India certified for the semifinals after beating Ireland. In a rain-affected match determined by the DLS methodology, Ireland, in reply to India’s 155 for six, was six runs quick when the match was stopped within the ninth over.

Fighting knock: Harmanpreet Kaur pulls one to the leg aspect throughout her innings of 52 in opposition to Australia within the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet was run out at a vital juncture within the run chase and India misplaced by 5 runs.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Ahead of the semifinal at Cape Town, the Australians should have been cautious as a result of India has been their greatest rival in current occasions. Back in 2021, it was India that ended its unimaginable profitable streak of 26 ODIs — that, too, in Australia.

Nail-biting affair

At Newlands, it regarded as if India would spoil Australia’s occasion but once more regardless of a difficult whole of 172 for 4. Opener Beth Mooney’s 54 (37b), Lanning’s unbeaten 49 (34b), Gardner’s 31 (18b), and inept fielding by India had been the principle contributors in that whole. India’s reply started disastrously – it was decreased to 34 for 3 when Yastika Bhatia ran herself out. But Jemimah Rodrigues (43, 24b) and Harmanpreet (52, 34b) staged an outstanding fightback, including 69 runs for the fourth wicket.

ALSO READ – From on-line abuse, alcoholism to enjoying in T20 WC remaining – the Sinalo Jafta story

Richa now joined Harmanpreet, who was wanting in nice contact. But Harmanpreet was run out at a vital juncture whereas trying a second run. Her bat received caught on the bottom, however she was maybe a bit gradual as she tried to return to her crease. You take an opportunity in opposition to this Australian aspect at your personal peril. The approach Ellyse Perry saved a few runs on the boundary with an unimaginable run, pick-up and throw alone would show that time.

India misplaced by 5 runs, and Harmanpreet’s disappointment was apparent, regardless of her try to cover her emotions by sporting sun shades. Her anguish is comprehensible, however India has to work on its sport, particularly fielding, if it desires to emulate its junior aspect that gained the inaugural Women’s U-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Sune Luus’s South Africa confirmed the significance of fielding when it shocked England within the different semifinal. Tazmin Brits alone took 4 catches — together with a surprising one off Alice Capsey — to assist South Africa e book its berth within the remaining. Brits had earlier top-scored for South Africa with 68 (55b) and had added 96 for the opening wicket with Laura Wolvaardt (53, 44b). The host made 164 for 4 which proved sufficient for its sharp bowling assault.

This time for Africa: Tazmin Brits lets out a roar and is joined within the celebrations by the gang behind her after taking a catch to dismiss England’s Danni Wyatt within the different semifinal. By defeating England by six runs, South Africa made it to its first-ever World Cup remaining.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Pacers Shabnim Ismail, who breathed hearth, and Ayabonga Khaka took seven wickets between them. Danni Wyatt (34, 30b) and Sophia Dunkley (28, 16b) gave an excellent begin to the run chase, placing on 53 contained in the Powerplay, however they each had been caught by Brits.

Heart-breaking finish for South Africa

In the ultimate, performed earlier than a full-house at Newlands, the South African dream was shattered by the ruthless Aussies. Their whole of 156 for six might have regarded beneath par, however not for this workforce.

Australia’s innings was constructed round yet one more good effort by opener Beth Mooney (74 n.o., 53b). She accelerated simply when it was required. No one else reached 30 however Gardner, who was promoted to No. 3 on a gradual wicket, scored 29 off 21 deliveries. Wolvaardt, probably the most trendy batters round, stored South Africa within the hunt together with her polished 61 (48b), however she was trapped lbw by Schutt. South Africa misplaced by 19 runs.

It was a heart-breaking finish for the hosts however they need to be pleased with their marketing campaign, which had begun on a disastrous observe — with a loss to Sri Lanka within the opening match. There was controversy too: captain Dane van Niekerk was dropped after she failed — by 18 seconds — a health check.

Their efficiency appears to have caught the nation’s creativeness. This is one in every of its higher moments in sport after the lads’s rugby workforce gained the 1995 World Cup, a match made unforgettable for the way in which Nelson Mandela used sport to heal a nation bruised by racism. And keep in mind, this was the primary time {that a} South African cricket workforce — male or feminine — reached a World Cup remaining. Big crowds turned as much as watch the ladies.

The crowds on the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup — and the big variety of eyeballs around the globe for reside telecast — proved that ladies’s cricket was quickly rising in recognition. South Africa’s efficiency additionally augurs effectively for the expansion of the ladies’s sport however the principle spotlight of the match was Australia’s relentless march to its sixth title — it was yet one more feather within the cap for Lanning and her troops.