\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a very exciting opportunity, but at the same time I think it puts a lot of pressure on them as well,\u201d Wolvaardt said on the eve of the final. \u201cThey have the whole country behind them and are sort of expected to win. I guess so. Yeah, I think it sort of plays in our favour, hopefully. We\u2019re very excited for the game. They\u2019re a very good side. We\u2019re going to have to play some really good cricket to beat them, but we\u2019re really excited for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The final will mark a clash between two teams chasing history \u2014 India aiming for their first world title in women\u2019s cricket, and South Africa looking to lift their maiden World Cup trophy. Interestingly, South Africa have held the upper hand in previous World Cup meetings, leading the head-to-head 3-0. However, Wolvaardt was quick to dismiss any talk of past dominance, emphasising that finals demand a fresh mindset.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYeah, like I said before, every cricket game starts at zero. We can\u2019t sort of bring any of our history into this game. Whether it would be finals that we\u2019ve lost or games that we\u2019ve won against India, we\u2019re just really trying to erase all of that stuff and start completely afresh in this game,\u201d she said. \u201cYeah, I think there\u2019s big pressure on both teams to perform, and I think whoever stays the calmest under that pressure is going to most likely come out on top tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both India and South Africa have previously experienced heartbreak in World Cup finals, and Wolvaardt said that this time, her approach is to remain grounded and focused on the process rather than the prize.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think in those finals or the first time I was in the final, you automatically think about the trophy and think about winning and sort of get excited. And now I\u2019m just really trying to stay present. We still have a really big game ahead of us against a really quality side,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying not to think too far ahead. I just really need to focus on what I need to do tonight at practice and then what I need to do tomorrow morning. Just really sort of slow it down. I think the first time you\u2019re in those finals, it sort of feels like a really big, fast-paced event. Whereas I think we need to all slow it down and take a big breath, and hopefully we\u2019re able to do that as a group,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think in those finals or the first time I was in the final, you automatically think about the trophy and think about winning and sort of get excited. And now I\u2019m just really trying to stay present. We still have a really big game ahead of us against a really quality side,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201c(A World Cup win) will be really special for the women\u2019s game back home. We recently got domestic contracts introduced. So, I can only imagine what something like a World Cup trophy will do back home. Just the number of girls that will be able to see it on TV, who will hear that we\u2019re a World Cup-winning nation,\u201d she said, her voice reflecting both hope and determination.<\/p>\r\n\r\n