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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:
An expert Australian eye from Megan Maurice:
This is so good to see!
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.
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