The Momentum Proteas recently made history by becoming the first SA team (men or women) to progress to the final of a Cricket World Cup.
As a result of the great performance by Hilton Moreeng’s charges, the silver medallists have received automatic qualification to the next T20 cricket World Cup.
Captain Sine Luus described the team’s journey as follows: “It’s been absolutely amazing. We have never imagined firstly being in the final and then the stadium being packed every single game… thank you Newlands and every single supporter; we love you guys.”
The automatic qualifiers for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 have been identified by the ICC after the end of the eighth edition of the tournament that saw Australia win their sixth title at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.
According to an official statement by the ICC, the top three teams from each group earn direct qualification along with the hosts and the highest ranked team outside of the six direct qualifiers from the 10-team tournament.
As a result “Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the teams to earn direct qualification as the top three teams of Group 1 in the league stage while England, India and the West Indies similarly make it to Group 2.
“Bangladesh qualify as hosts of the ninth edition of the tournament while Pakistan make it by virtue of being the next highest ranked team in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings as of 27 February 2023”.
“The remaining two spots will be identified through a Global Qualifier to be held in early 2024. The dates and venues of this tournament will be announced in due course”.
Another highlight for the ladies following the global showpiece is that Proteas openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits have attained career best positions in the ICC T20I player rankings.
Wolvaardt, who scored 53 in the semi-final win against England and a valiant 61 against Australia in the final that her team lost by 19 runs, finished as the most prolific batter in the tournament.
As a result, she has shot up eight places to sixth in the rankings.
Brits’ player of the match effort of 68 in the semi-final sees her advance five places to 12th position.
Meanwhile, South Africa seamers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka have also moved up.
Ismail has progressed from 11th to seventh while Khaka has advanced from 21st to 14th.
ICC T20 Bowling Rankings
- 1. Sophie Ecclestone (England) – 801
- 2. Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa) – 746
- 3. Darcie Brown – 737
- 4. Sarah Glenn (England) – 734
- 5. Deepti Sharma (India) – 729
- 6. Megan Schutt (Australia) – 709
- 7. Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – 703
ICC T20 Batting Rankings
- 1. Tahlia McGrath (Australia) – 801
- 2. Beth Mooney (Australia) – 770
- 3. Smriti Mandhana (India) – 722
- 4. Meg Lanning (Australia) – 696
- 5. Sophie Devine (New Zealand) – 691
- 6. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – 664
