Women's T20 World Cup: Losing Semi-Final Better Than "Free Pass" To Final, Says Dane van Niekerk

Updated: 05 March 2020 23:39 IST

India progressed to the Women's T20 World Cup final after their semi-final match against England was washed out.

Womens T20 World Cup: Losing Semi-Final Better Than "Free Pass" To Final, Says Dane van Niekerk
Dane van Niekerk sided with the argument for reserve days for world tournaments. © AFP

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk said that she would rather lose a semi-final match than "get a free pass" to the World Cup final. Van Niekerk's South Africa narrowly missed out on reaching the ongoing's 2020 Women's T20 World Cup final, losing to hosts Australia by five runs via the Duckworth Lewis Method. The end of Australia's innings was followed by a long break due to rains at the Sydney Cricket Grounds. This led to South Africa being given 13 overs to chase a target of 98.

"I am not going to sit and lie and say, 'You don't think about it'," van Niekerk said, about the possibility of her team qualifying for the final if the match had been washed out by virtue of their higher tally of points in the group stage than Australia. her team had been tracking the weather updates through the day.

"I have to give credit to the ground staff; they did absolutely everything to keep us on the park. And we are here to play cricket. I'd rather lose than get a free pass into the World Cup final."

Earlier in the day, India had progressed to the final after their semi-final match against England was washed out. India had finished their group stage with eight points while England had six which helped Harmanpreet Kaur's side reach their first ever T20 World Cup final.

Van Niekerk had said before the match said that she sided with the argument for reserve days for world tournaments.

"To lose out because of weather is probably not ideal," she said on Wednesday. "And I don't think it should be like that. I believe in the future, semi-finals and finals should definitely have reserve days."

Comments
Topics mentioned in this article South Africa Women South Africa Women Dane Van Niekerk Women's T20 World Cup Cricket India Women India Women
Highlights
  • South Africa narrowly missed out on reaching the Women's T20 WC final
  • South Africa lost to Australia by 5 runs via the Duckworth Lewis Method
  • India reached the final after their semi-final vs England was washed out
Related Articles
"Just Hate Playing India": Australian Bowler Ahead Of Womens T20 World Cup Final
"Just Hate Playing India": Australian Bowler Ahead Of Women's T20 World Cup Final
Womens T20 World Cup: ICC Appoints Umpires For India vs Australia Final
Women's T20 World Cup: ICC Appoints Umpires For India vs Australia Final
IND vs ENG: Harmanpreet Kaur Says Winning T20 World Cup Will Get The Team Lot Of Love In India
IND vs ENG: Harmanpreet Kaur Says Winning T20 World Cup Will Get The Team Lot Of Love In India
India Have Firepower To Win Maiden Womens T20 World Cup, Says Jhulan Goswami
India Have Firepower To Win Maiden Women's T20 World Cup, Says Jhulan Goswami
Womens T20 World Cup: Michael Vaughan Reacts To "Karma" Tweets After Englands Womens T20 World Cup Exit
Women's T20 World Cup: Michael Vaughan Reacts To "Karma" Tweets After England's Women's T20 World Cup Exit
Advertisement