The 8th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup had hosts South Africa finish as runners-up and Australia extend their domination with a 6th T20 World Cup trophy and the third in a row. To acknowledge South Africa’s World Cup campaign, the DSAC recently held a recognition luncheon for the team.
The Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture (DSAC), Deputy Minister, Ms. Nocawe Mafu, at the official lunch, conferred the South African women’s team players with medals and incentives for their performance in the World Cup that sees them be the first South African team to reach a cricket World Cup Final.
Deputy Minister, Ms. Mafu announced a Rand 7.5 million incentive for the women’s team as well as Rand 15 million for Cricket South Africa (CSA) over the next 3 years to invest in a professional women’s cricket league. For women’s cricket to grow, the focus has got to be on the infrastructure and improving the women’s T20 league and the bonanza announced can help CSA do just that.
South Africa didn’t have the start to the tournament they would have wished for as the side lost the curtain raiser to Sri Lanka by 3 runs. The side built on the positives from the Sri Lanka game and against New Zealand scripted a thumping 65-run win. The side then lost their 2nd league stage game to eventual champions, Australia, and on the back of a dictating 10-wicket win over Bangladesh, advanced to the playoffs.
South Africa was up against an in-form England side in the Semi-Final but handed the English an upset by sneaking a 6-run win to get hands on the ticket to the Final. On the big stage, in the grand Final, South Africa did exceedingly well to restrict Australia to only 156 but in reply fell 19 short of the required. Nevertheless, the tournament was an inspiring one for South Africa to have had.
CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, on the reception from DSAC said, “The support by the department shows that the development of women’s cricket relies on all of us: it is our collective responsibility to commit resources that will assist us in taking the women’s game forward.
The Momentum Proteas have united the country in the most significant way, and the significance of them reaching the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 will ring in the corridors of history for many years to come. We hope the incentive awarded by the department to the Momentum Proteas will energise the Momentum Proteas to elevate their game to the greatest heights and inspire young women from all backgrounds to take up cricket and aspire to compete at the highest levels of the game.”
