Sunday 26 February 2023 was an historic day for women’s sport in South Africa before a ball was even bowled. A sellout crowd at Newlands, in a country where women’s cricket is rarely even ticketed. Queues snaking down the road as 12,782 spectators filed in to witness this never-before-seen occasion – South Africa in a cricket World Cup final. A rousing, emotional rendition of their national anthem before play, which had Marizanne Kapp sobbing.
As for the result? Well, you can’t have everything. First, Australia amassed 156 runs as Beth Mooney (74 not out off 53 balls) made history of her own, becoming the first player to score half-centuries in successive Twenty20 World Cup finals. Then, slowly, the Australians tightened their spider web around South Africa, who faced down dot after dot after dot in a 22-run powerplay.
