New Zealand and South Africa will contest the T20 World Cup final, with even Australian skipper Alyssa Healy admitting that crowning first-time winners of the tournament on Sunday will be a special moment for women's cricket.
Following Australia's sensational eight-wicket exit at the hands of an inspired South African team in Dubai on Thursday, New Zealand held their nerve in Sharjah on Friday to advance to the final for the first time in 14 years with an eight-run victory over West Indies.
Their final-over hero was the nerveless 37-year-old veteran Suzie Bates, bowling in a World Cup match for the first time in eight years, who was coolness personified as West Indies needed 15 to win.