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One of the biggest days in the cricketing history of both South Africa and New Zealand sees the two nations face off in Dubai for the chance to win their first ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
DATE & TIME: Sunday 20th October, 2024: UAE – 5:00pm / USA (PST) – 7:00am / USA (EST) – 10:00am / UK – 3:00pm / South Africa – 4:00pm / Pakistan – 7:30pm / India– 7:00pm / Bangladesh – 8:00pm / Saturday 20th October 2024: Australia – 12:00am
VENUE: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
WEATHER: Hot conditions expected with sunshine to begin with, before clear skies later on as temperatures remain well inside the thirties.
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: USA – Willow TV / West Indies – ESPN Caribbean / UK – Sky Sports / South Africa – SuperSport / Pakistan – PTV Sports & TEN Sports / India – Star Sports / Bangladesh – Nagorik TV
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: USA – Willow TV website / West Indies – ESPN Play Caribbean app / UK – Sky Go / South Africa – SuperSport app / Pakistan – Myco, Tamasha & Shoq / India – Disney+Hotstar / Bangladesh – Toffee / Australia – Amazon Prime Video
HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR THE 2024 ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP: Click here for the latest ticket information for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
SOUTH AFRICA FORM: SHOCK WIN OVER TOURNAMENT FAVOURITES SECURES SECOND STRAIGHT FINAL APPEARANCE
South Africa produced one of their best ever performances in the semi-final, stunning the reigning champions and overwhelm tournament favourites Australia, who beat the Proteas in the final last year. Once again, it was their big-hitting top order that did the damage as they chased down 135 in just 17.2 overs for the loss of only two wickets. Anneke Bosch striking 74 from 48 balls at number three, the finest knock of her career.
NEW ZEALAND FORM: AFTER EDGING PAST WEST INDIES, WHITE FERNS CORE GET ONE MORE SHOT AT HISTORY.
Coming into this Women’s T20 World Cup, many spoke about how it would likely be the final opportunity for players such as Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates to win a major tournament for New Zealand. Come the start of play here, the pair will have the best chance they’ll ever get to make their dream a reality following an 8-run semi-final victory over West Indies in Sharjah.
SOUTH AFRICA BETTING ANALYSIS
Arguably the best player across the entire competition, certainly from a consistency basis has been South Africa opener and captain Laura Wolvaardt. She boasts 190 runs from five innings, the most of any batter across the tournament.
Behind her is opening partner Tazmin Brits with 170 runs, averaging 42.50 compared to Wolvaardt’s 47.50. Bettors should consider the safer option of covering both players to score 30+ runs here via the ‘Batter Milestones.
Another market worth considering is that of ‘Team – Opening Partnership Total’, with the Proteas worth backing to add over 20.5 runs for the first wicket.
NEW ZEALAND BETTING ANALYSIS
Whilst South Africa boast the top-performing batter in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup heading into the final, New Zealand can call upon the top performing bowler.
No player has picked up more wickets than Amelia Kerr, the leg-spinning all-rounder having gained 12 scalps across five games. Kerr averages over 1.5 match wickets per game and it’s this outcome that should be backed by bettors in the final.
SOUTH AFRICA VS NEW ZEALAND EXPERT PREDICTION
The big worry from a South African perspective going into this final is that we could be in for a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ following that sensational win over Australia. You could argue that New Zealand are more battle-hardened after coming through their semi-final thriller in such tense circumstances.
South Africa’s record in major finals also cannot be discounted, whether it be the men or women’s team. The country has been labelled ‘chokers’ from a cricketing perspective for many years with their sides failing to win a major trophy and the Proteas men have already tasted defeat in a T20 World Cup final only a few months ago.
South Africa’s top order is absolutely paramount to their success, but as the saying goes, batters win games but bowlers win titles. New Zealand’s bowling across the tournament has been superb, strangling opponents and forcing wickets. They will be key to shutting down the firepower possessed by the Proteas and in a competition, where ball has mainly triumphed over bat, you wouldn’t put it past the New Zealand bowling unit spearheading them to a maiden Women’s T20 World Cup.
SOUTH AFRICA VS NEW ZEALAND TOP TIP: NEW ZEALAND TO WIN