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A first-time winner beckons as South Africa face New Zealand in T20 World Cup final

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Laura Wolvaardt and Sophie Devine with the T20 World Cup trophy at the Museum of the Future (ICC)

Big picture: A shot at history

Some pictures speak more than words can convey.

Like Siya Kolisi looking skywards and roaring into the Parisian sky, before lifting last year’s Rugby World Cup

Like Grant Elliott, a South African by heritage, offering a hand to a crestfallen Dale Steyn after hitting the winning six to seal New Zealand’s final at the 2015 ODI World Cup.

Like Katy Perry joining Meg Lanning’s victorious Australian team on the winners’ podium in front of a record 86,174 fans at the MCG in 2020.

Or, more recently, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – standing side by side, like brothers in arms, with the Indian flag, their medals and the World Cup trophy, before walking into the sunset.

Today, South Africa and New Zealand will go toe to toe to earn the right to add to the iconic images and moments of the sport, for which one works hard for years, or decades in the case of Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, and Marizanne Kapp.

New Zealand have a shot at glory after 14 years, South Africa their second in two years, having vanquished Australia, the team that broke their hearts on a sparkling Cape Town afternoon last February.

Their journeys to the World Cup final have been somewhat similar. Filled with stunning wins that warmed the hearts. And losses that questioned – with a transition looming – the pathway structures that haven’t exactly been able to replicate the benchmarks set by Australia and England. Which is why their appearance in the summit clash holds out hope for the women’s game and the sport’s expansion.

Dubai has a massive significance for both teams. South Africa lifted their only ever silverware – senior or junior – at a World Cup here in 2014 under Aiden Markram’s captaincy. For New Zealand, this was the epicentre of their most recent finals heartbreak at the men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.

Irrespective of what happens in the grand finale on Sunday, the women’s T20 World Cup winner will have a new winner.

Form guide: (last five T20Is, most recent first)

New Zealand WWWLW
South Africa WWWLW

In the spotlight:

Fourteen years ago in Barbados, Ellyse Perry’s boot intercepted an absolute rocket hit from Sophie Devine  to prevent a boundary that would have sent the T20 World Cup final into a Super Over. A generation has come and gone, but Devine has willed herself to fight through the highs and lows. Today, she has a rare opportunity to finish her captaincy career with the ultimate crowning glory.

Anneke Bosch ‘s  batting until the semi-final had come in for sharp criticism from several quarters as she was striking below a run a ball. The team management was aware of it but continued to back her as they believed a big knock was around the corner. On Thursday, Bosch batted out of her skin to send Australia packing – her unbeaten 74 was a knock full of enterprise and innovation. After a performance for the ages, she will hope for another impactful innings.

There is little indication that both teams will greatly change with their XIs from the semi-final. South Africa have remained unchanged all tournament.

New Zealand (probable):

Georgia Plimmer,  Suzie Bates,  Amelia Kerr,  Sophie Devine (capt),  Brooke Halliday,  Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk),  Rosemary Mair,  Lea Tahuhu,  Eden Carson,  Fran Jonas

South Africa (probable):

Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits,  Anneke Bosch,  Chloe Tryon,  Marizanne Kapp,  Sune Luus,  Annerie Dercksen,  Nadine de Klerk,  Sinao Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba,  Ayabonga Khaka



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Ireland surge ahead despite Muzarabani’s heroics

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Blessing Muzarabani and Trevor Gwandu dragged Zimbabwe to a first-innings lead [Zimbabwe Cricket]

Ireland and Zimbabwe continued to zigzag with the flow yet again in Bulawayo but it was the visitors who were better placed at the end of the day. barry McCarthy’s toil and versatility combined with Andy McBrine’s consistency provided them with the hope of capturing a substantial lead.

Blessing Muzarabani thought otherwise. His inspired 67-run stand for the tenth wicket with Trevor Gwandu took Zimbabwe from a position of danger into the comforts of a slender lead. But it was a sign of the pitch easing out, something Ireland’s top order didn’t waste.

Peter Moor dispatched Muzarabani, who didn’t bowl consistent lines, as Ireland raced to 42 for 0 in seven overs. Richard Ngarava got one to angle away to ensure Moor’s 33 didn’t grow to become a good score, but his partner, Andy Balbirnie, joined Curtis Campher to ensure Ireland went to stumps unscathed.

Brief scores:
Ireland 260 and 83 for 1 in 21 overs  (Andy Balbirnie 32*,  Peter Moor 30; Richard  Ngarava 1-25) lead Zimbabwe 267 in 86.1 overs (Nick Welch 90, Blessing Muzarabani 47; Barry  McCarthy 4-75, Andy McBrine 3-59) by 76 runs

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Malintha bags ten wickets as St. Sebastian’s book semi-final ticket

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by Reemus Fernando 

A painstaking knock of 49 runs by Kaveesha Perera and a valuable half century by Navod Fernando helped St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa pull of exciting four wickets victory over St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket quarter-final at Gajaba Regiment Ground Saliyapura, Anuradhapura on Friday.

It was a huge turnaround for the Sebs after conceding a first innings deficit of 51 runs. Tournament’s highest wicket taker, Malintha Silva’s six wicket haul in the second innings was the turning point as Sebs dismissed St. Anthony’s for 103 runs. Malintha collected a match bag of ten wickets.

Chasing 149 runs for victory St. Sebastian’s lost three wickets for 40 runs but Navod Fernando’s 58 runs and Kaveesha’s 131-ball 49 helped them ease nerves and reach the target with a session to spare.

Now St. Sebastian’s will meet the winners of the match between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s in the semi-final on 12, 13 and 14 at Samadi Ground Anuradhapura.

In the other quarter-final, first innings points were enough for Royal to advance to the semi-final.

Despite having a huge first innings lead, Royal decided not to enforce the follow-on. They posted 248 runs thanks to an unbeaten 122 runs by Vimath Dinsara. In their second essay S. Thomas’ were 186 for three wickets at close.

Now,  Royal will wait for a decision by a SLSCA committee to see who would be their semi-final opponents from the Mahanama-Trinity match. The quarter-final between Mahanama and Trinity did not last the full distance after Mahanama disputed a move by the ground staff to roll the wicket earlier than the scheduled time and pulled out. Trinity were ahead in the first innings. The committee were scheduled to meet in the morning on Saturday (8) to take a decision.

Match Details 

At Gajaba Regiment Ground Saliyapura, Anuradhapura 

Scores
St. Anthony’s 204 all out in 70 overs (Sanuka Kalpana 41, Charuka Ekanayake 24, Kevan Fernando 89n.o.; Risinu Prabesh 2/21, Malintha Silva 4/60) and 103 all out in 35.4 overs (Okitha Fernando 29, Charuka Ekanayake 21, Kevan Fernando 28; Malintha Silva 6/54, Shenas Hashein 3/23)

St. Sebastian’s 159 all out in 67 overs (Ushen Silva 33, Ryan Dissanayake 33, Navod Fernando 34; Charuka Ekanayake 3/66, Dinura Ganegoda 3/20, Kevan Fernando 2/09) and 00 for 1 overnight 149 for 6 in 51.1 overs (Kaveesha Perera 49, Navod Fernando 58; Charuka Ekanayake 2/33, Ryan Gregory 2/24, Sadew Amarakoon 2/22)

At Samadi Ground Anuradhapura 

Scores
Royal 301 all out in 102.4 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 22, Rehan Peiris 82, Ramiru Perera 81, Yasindu Dissanayake 58; Kavindu Dias 2/69, Abheeth Paranawidana 2/66, Minon Warnasuriya 2/37) and 50 for 2 overnight 248 all out in 63.5 overs (Isula Geeganage 47, Vimath Dinsara 122n.o, Ramiru Perera 25; Abheeth Paranawidana 3/63, Aaron de Silva 3/48)

S. Thomas’ 120 all out in 58.2 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 28, Sachitha Gunasinghe 33; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 5/31, Ranuka Malaviarachchi 2/39) and 186 for 3 in 39 overs  (Sadew Soysa 57, Jaden Amaraweera 46,  Dineth Gunawardana 44n.o., Mithila Charles 34n.o.)

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President and representatives of IMF discuss progress of EFF

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A comprehensive discussion regarding the progress of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took place on Thursday (06) at the Presidential Secretariat, between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the IMF delegation.

The current government has already reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the third review regarding the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of USD3 billion.

The details of this review are expected to be presented to the International Monetary Fund’s Board of Directors by the end of this month. In this regard, discussions were held regarding the progress and the government’s involvement in continuing the program moving forward.

Once the approval is granted by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka is expected to release the fourth tranche of the extended loan, amounting to 333 million dollars.

The discussion was also attended by IMF Executive Director Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Alternate Executive Director Dr. P. K. G. Harischandra, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwadana, and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.

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