The final match to the women’s T20 World Cup took place in Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday. 14 000 spectators piled into the stadium to watch South Africa’s Protea team on the field against Australian six-time T20 World Cup winners.
After winning the semi-final against England on Friday, the Proteas went up against the greatest women’s cricket side in history for a final showdown. Thousands of South Africans appeared at the match on Sunday in support of the national team, cheering them on at every run.
South Africa lost by 19 runs, but Proteas women’s captain Sune Luus reported that she’s proud of what her team achieved at the finals.
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According to an article on News24, Sune says:
“I’m definitely proud of every teammate of mine. We’ve done an incredible job to get to the final, and I think to put up a fight against a team like Australia … I just feel really proud,”
“It was the most special day we could ask for. When we started this tournament, I don’t think this was something we envisioned.
“We were hoping it wasn’t going to be too embarrassing with empty stadiums. We just hoped a few people would come to the games, so to see this has been next-level.”
“The country was really behind us, and it was something we never really thought would happen. It was such an honour to have that opportunity to inspire a nation and to have them come out and watch us play – it was such a blessing.”
When chatting about any nerves that may have cropped up before the big game, Luus said:
“You always think about a World Cup final and what it will feel like, but I was pretty chilled throughout the day. I still watched a couple of movies this morning,”
“You go through waves. There are excitement levels and a few nerves here and there. We obviously thought we had a chance while we were batting, so it obviously gives you that extra bit of excitement.”
“We would have loved to win, but for us to play in a final with a sell-out crowd was amazing.”
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Even though the Proteas did not win the finals, the team now have a better idea of what it takes to get over the line, having competed against six-time World Cup winners. Sune continues:
“We got a sniff of how a final is, and we now have the heartache of not winning a final. At next year’s World Cup, when we get there again, it’s not going to be a big thing for us anymore.”
“This was a massive opportunity for our girls and they did extremely well. We gave them (Australia) a good run for their money. It obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, but I just have positive feelings right now.”
Sune congratulated the Australian women’s team and acknowledged that the Proteas still have a way to go.
“They’re a well-oiled machine,” says Luus.
“Their level of professionalism is insane, and they’re a team the world has been looking up to for a very long time. They’re there for a reason.”
“If you look at their structures and pipelines, everything is just lining up and everything is in order. It’s something as a country we’re definitely striving for.”
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