Women’s T20 World Cup Predicted XI: Brits, Wolvaardt, pacers key as South Africa aim for win vs Australia in final

Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia are unbeaten against South Africa in WT20Is, but can Sune Luus and Co. turn the tables in the final on Sunday in Cape Town?

WT20 WC: Brits, Wolvaardt, pacers key as South Africa aim for win vs Australia in final. Courtesy: AP

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury: Australia and South Africa are set to face each other in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 on Sunday, February 26 at the Newlands in Cape Town.

The Aussies have won all five of their matches thus far in the tournament and are also eying a hat-trick of T20 World Cup titles. Meg Lanning’s women bowled nine wides and two no-balls, but Darcie Brown’s brilliant spell of bowling helped them beat India in the semi-final.

Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy, and skipper Lanning have scored a chunk of the runs for the Aussies. Ashleigh Gardner would have gained some confidence after her 31-run knock against India. Ellyse Perry scored 40 against New Zealand but hasn’t got a lot of chances to bat.

Grace Harris is a brute force with the bat and has shown glimpses of the same, but she is yet to get a big score. Brown, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, and Gardner have 30 wickets to their name.

Jess Jonassen was stupendous for them in the penultimate over of the semi-final where she conceded only four runs and got the important wicket of Sneh Rana. Ellyse Perry and Grace Harris haven’t bowled a whole lot, but they are more than handy options.

South Africa’s batting has mostly been about their openers, Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt. While Brits has scored 176 runs, Wolvaardt has 169 runs to her name. Brits was impeccable in the semis against England after she scored 68 and took four catches.

Apart from the duo, there isn’t much to talk about the South African batting. Marizanne Kapp was quiet in the Group games before chipping in with a quick-fire 31 in the semis. Chloe Tryon scored 40 against New Zealand but hasn’t had a big score apart from that.

Sune Luus hasn’t contributed much with the bat and she is yet to bowl in the tournament. South Africa’s major strength has been their fast bowlers. Shabnim Ismail breathed fire against England and got the required support from Kapp and Ayobonga Khaka.

Probable XIs

Australia

Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

South Africa

Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus (c), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba