Photo Credit: ICC
Sune Luus expressed pride in her South African side despite slipping to a 19-run defeat against Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final.
The Proteas made history as the first South African side to reach a World Cup final and played the showpiece in front of a sold-out crowd on home soil at Newlands.
Luus’s side kept Australia in touching distance with a disciplined bowling display, the holders making 156 for six from their 20 overs.
After a slow start, Laura Wolvaardt began to motor – making 61 from 48 balls – but her departure signalled the end of South Africa’s hopes as Australia comfortably closed out the death overs.
“I think it’s a bittersweet feeling,” Luus said. “But personally, I’m just feeling extremely proud of each and every teammate of mine and management staff.
“We’ve done an incredible job to get to the final and I think to put up a good fight against a team like Australia, I just feel very proud.
“We have got a sniff of how a final is and the feelings and the nerves and everything and now we have the heartache of not winning a final.
“Getting through the hurdle of the semi-final, next year’s World Cup when we get there again, it’s not going to be a big thing for us anymore to break that curse.
“I think now it’s just for us to really look at that final and say, ‘Okay, cool, how are we going to get through the final and be on the other side of that?’”
Shabnim Ismail was the pick of the South Africa bowlers as she took two wickets for 26 runs from her four overs, including bowling a maiden over to put the pressure on Beth Mooney.
The opener responded in some style, going on to make 74 not out to be named player of the match, combining well with Ashleigh Gardner to steady the ship.
Ismail then secured a late fightback for South Africa with two wickets in two balls in the final over of Australia’s innings.
The Proteas were hesitant in reply, making only 52 runs from the first ten overs before Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon kicked into gear as they put on a 55-run partnership.
The duo were dismissed in consecutive overs to end any chance of the title, but Luus hopes their performance in front of packed Newlands is a sign of what is to come.
She said: “We’re knocking on doors and we are so, so close to the best in the world.
“We’ve knocked over India, we’ve knocked over England in high-pressure situations. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it today.
“But we are close. We have such talented people in our team, and with the right resources and the right structures, we can get them to the next level.
“I’m really excited for the next months to come and what’s going to happen and just for the players’ growth, I think it’s going to be exponential.
“This team is just going to grow from strength to strength, we’ve set the benchmark here today and we’re not going to settle for anything less in the future.”
