The Proteas Women will face New Zealand in Sunday’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in Dubai.

On Friday the White Ferns of New Zealand beat the West Indies by eight runs in the second semi-final in Sharjah.

New Zealand had a bat first and were restricted to 128/9 in their allotted 20 overs with Georgia Plimmer top-scoring with 33 runs while Suzie Bates added 26 to the score.

Georgia Plimmer. Photo: Cricinfo

The wicketkeeper, Isabella Gaze, chipped in with 20. Deandra Dottin was the star with the ball for the team from the Caribbean with 4/22 in her allotted four overs, while Afy Fletcher took 2/23 in her four overs.

The Windies would have backed themselves to chase down the relatively low score and Dottin scored 33 runs in the Windies innings, however, Fletchers ’17 was the next highest score and this was too little as they were restricted to 120/8 in their allotted overs.

Eden Carson took 3/29 in her four overs and Amelia Kerr’s 2/14 in her four overs. This no doubt won the game for the White Ferns.

Kerr said just like the Proteas Women they too are inspired by the success of their other national sporting teams over the past year, as they also target a first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title.

“It’s so exciting I think for New Zealand and everyone back home – I kind of think of the Black Ferns, our women’s rugby team back home who made the World Cup final,” said Kerr.

“And I think after that, so many young girls and boys want to start playing rugby. So, to be a team that’s now playing in the final, having the chance to win a World Cup I think is going to inspire so many kids back home.”

Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates. Photo: Cricinfo

“I guess in sport and in life people like seeing and hearing success stories and if we can, we have the opportunity to inspire the nation I guess with the final coming up. I’m just so proud of how this group has carried themselves.

“Yes, we want to do great things on the field, but more importantly what we do off the field is outstanding and the people we are that yes, if we win, we might win or lose cricket games but all the girls in the group are fantastic role models and now we have the chance to add a trophy to it.”

On Thursday in the first semi-final South Africa hammered the seven-time back-to-back T20 World Cup champions, Australia, to reach consecutive finals.

Sunday’s big final in Dubai is scheduled to start at 15:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg