T20 World Cup Final: Disciplined South Africa cut Australian wings, restrict champions to 156/6 in Cape Town
Women’s T20 World Cup Final: Hosts South Africa produced a sensational bowling performance to restrict Australia to 156 for the loss of 6 wickets in the first innings of the game.
Australia’s Grace Harris gets dismissed vs South Africa. (Photo AP)
By India Today Sports Desk: A disciplined South Africa produced a stunning display of bowling in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday, 26 February. Widely regarded as the best bowling line-up in the world, South Africa lived up to the billing, restricting Australia to 156/6 in Cape Town.
After choosing to bat first, Australia found it difficult to cut away from the world go. This happened due to the amount of homework SA put into their game. First they packed the off side field to Beth Mooney, who has made a mark in world cricket due to her dominant drives. This led to Australia starting off slowly in the powerplay.
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When the time came South Africa switched to their bouncers and then slower balls once the pitch started gripping at Cape Town. While Beth Mooney held one end in the game, she remained not out for 74 runs from 53 balls at a strike-rate of 139.62. Mooney’s assault came in late, but by the time, things had fallen into the hands of South Africa bowlers.
Australia tried to be aggressive with their approach in the final match, promoting the likes of Ash Gardner, Grace Harris and Georgia Wareham. Established batters like Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath came one and two positions down their original places respectively.
Shabnim Ismail was the star of the day for South Africa, finishing with the figures of 4-1-26-2. The fast bowler tormented the Australian batters with pace, bowling consistently at 118-120 KMPH mark, despite the sticky nature of the wicket.
Ismail’s bouncer barrage was too hot to handle for Mooney in the final over of the powerplay, and she conceded a maiden when Australia really needed the runs. Ismail’s two wickets came in the final over of the innings. After getting hit for a six and a four, Ismail hit back with the wickets of Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham in the fourth and the fifth ball in the over. She could have got the wicket of Mooney as well, but Laura Wollvardt dropped a dolly at point.
South Africa, if they chase the target down, will go in history as the first ever SA side to win a senior ICC World Cup. The team will have to chase down a record total in the final.
