Women's T20 World Cup final: Meg Lanning elects to bat
Australia and South Africa will lock horns in the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup final on Sunday in Cape Town. The Aussies defeated India by a narrow margin to reach their seventh final in the tournament. Meanwhile, SA qualified for their first-ever final in World Cups (men or women). Australian captain Meg Lanning has won the toss and elected to bat.
A look at the two teams
South Africa Women (Playing XI): Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus (captain), Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wicket-keeper), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba. Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy (wicket-keeper), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
Pitch report, timing, and broadcast details
The Newlands in Cape Town will be hosting the final. The venue boasts an average first innings total of around 150. Chasing sides have won 21 of 37 T20Is played here. The wicket is likely to assist both batters and bowlers. The match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network (6:30 PM IST) and live-streamed on Disney+Hotstar (paid subscription).
Australia are unbeaten against SA
Australia are unbeaten against South Africa in Women's T20Is. They have won each of the six encounters, the first of which dates back to June 2009. The Aussies also defeated South Africa in the Group 1 match of the ongoing WT20 WC.
Australia eye their sixth WT20 WC title
As stated, Australia have reached their seventh final in the Women's T20 World Cup. They were the runners-up in the 2016 edition when West Indies lifted the trophy. Meanwhile, Australia won the title in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2020. On the other hand, South Africa have qualified for their first-ever World Cup final (men or women).
Key performers in 2023 Women's T20 WC
South Africa's Tazmin Brits is the second-highest run-scorer of the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup with 176 runs. Notably, Australia's Alyssa Healy is her closest rival (171 runs). Australia's Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner are the joint-second-highest wicket-takers in the tournament. The duo has nine wickets each from five matches. For SA, Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp jointly top this list (7).
