BREAKING: Proteas Women fall short in ICC T20 World Cup final

The T20 World Cup final got underway from 3pm in front of a sold-out Newlands Stadium crowd on Sunday, with all the action also broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Ch. 201).  

Ultimately, it was just one step too far for the home team despite a gutsy effort throughout an encounter where they were always seen as big underdogs.

You can check out the full scorecard here

ALSO READ: Tazmin Brits – From shattered Olympic dreams to World Cup hero

Under the tutelage of coach Moreeng, spanning more than 10 years, the Proteas Women have undertaken an extensive, lesson-filled journey towards reaching a first ever World Cup final for a South African team, in men or women’s cricket.  

Over the course of his decade-long tenure, Moreeng has overseen multiple semi-final appearances, beginning with the T20 World Cup in 2014 in which South Africa lost out to England in Bangladesh. That preceded a semi-final showing in the 50-over competition in England, which was followed up by final four finishes in 2020 (T20 World Cup in Australia) and 2022 (50-over World Cup in New Zealand).  

Recap the T20 World Cup live action below:

ALSO READ: Proteas skipper Sune Luus believes the trophy is in reach

With only a day to prepare for the five-time winners and defending champions Australia – a team the Proteas Women have not been able to triumph over in previous six T20Is – coach Moreeng had shared some insight on the team’s readiness ahead of the titanic battle.  

“It’s not always easy. We mentioned it when we saw the fixtures, but it is one of those that you knew that if you get yourself into the semi-finals, you need to be ready for this. Even with the series we had back in East London, we tried to replicate that and see how we can work on it and how the girls respond.  

“Now the most important thing is to get everyone fresh again, give them good recovery and make sure that from there, they can switch on again and play cricket because no one in the changeroom needs (extra) motivation for tomorrow, they know what is at stake.   

‘We know we are playing against tough opposition and history is just that, history, tomorrow is a new day, it’s a once off game and whoever wants it the most will have,” the coach continued.  

Speaking as the first South African cricket captain to lead the Proteas into a senior World Cup final, Luus also emphasised the enormity of the occasion awaiting her and the rest of her teammates, win or lose:  

“It’s going to be a very special feeling. Like Coach Hilton said, we have always known we had the ability and the skill to be in a final and it was just to about getting through that semi-final curse as the country and the whole world is putting it but it’s going to be something special.  

“No matter what happens tomorrow, it’s going to be a special day for us,” the captain added.  

Proteas Women

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

England Women

England Women: Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell

Sunday, 26 February – 15h00 (SAST) 

Final: South Africa vs Australia (Newlands, Cape Town)