Ayabonga Khaka wins ESPNcricinfo Women's T20I bowling award for her outstanding performance at the crunch

The fast bowler led South Africa to their first World Cup final with her best performance of the tournament in the semi-final.

Winner: Ayabonga Khaka

4 for 29 vs England, T20 World Cup semi-final, Cape Town

South Africa made history. They reached their first World Cup final on home soil. They owed their success to a collective bowling effort, led by Khaka.

The top order showed great resilience in scoring 164, banishing the ghosts of three previous semi-final defeats to England in ICC tournaments. However, with six wickets still in hand, South Africa appeared to have missed an opportunity to score more runs. England's rapid start of 50 runs in under five overs seemed to confirm this. In her final international match, Shabnim Ismail, along with Tazmin Brits, removed Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey in just three balls, providing the opening South Africa needed.

Danni Wyatt was joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt, and together they added 32 runs for the third wicket. When Khaka, who had conceded ten runs in her first over and 12 in her second, was brought back into the attack. She skillfully used her variations to remove Wyatt and slow down England just after the halfway point in the chase. But it was not until the 18th over that Khaka shone.

England required 28 runs to win, and Khaka was given the ball. Her first delivery was full, and Amy Jones drove but failed to get elevation, resulting in her being caught at cover. Khaka continued to pitch it up, conceding a single and a wide off the next three balls. Tensions rose as the game hung in the balance. Finally, Khaka delivered a slow and full ball, which frustrated Sophie Ecclestone, causing her to slice it to cover. Khaka's final ball was full and fired in at Katherine Sciver-Brunt's pads, striking her in front of middle and leg as she came down the track. Khaka finished with four wickets at an economy of 7.25.

Khaka took three wickets in the over, leaving Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail with 24 runs to defend off the last two overs. Despite Kapp's over costing 12, the last over only went for six. South Africa won a tense match by six runs and became the favourites of the nation, achieving a feat that no senior South African team of either gender had accomplished before. They lost the final to Australia two days later but captured the hearts and minds of fans throughout the two-week tournament.

Important moment

England was performing well at 85 for 2 in the 11th over when Khaka was brought back for a second one-over spell. By taking pace off the ball, she forced Danni Wyatt to play the pull shot a fraction of a second too early, resulting in Tazmin Brits, at fine leg, making a sliding catch to confirm the breakthrough. Wyatt was on 34 off 29 balls at the time, and her dismissal halted England's momentum, leading to the loss of six wickets for 68.

The nearest competitor: Ashleigh Gardner

5 for 12 vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup, Paarl

Australia, the serial champions, began their title defence with a dominant performance against their neighbours, New Zealand. After being put into bat, they scored 173 for 9 and defended it emphatically, winning by 97 runs. Megan Schutt removed New Zealand's two most experienced players, Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, in the first over before Gardner completed the demolition of the lower and middle order from the ninth over. Amelia Kerr was bowled by a delivery that kept low, sparking a collapse that saw New Zealand lose 6 wickets for 25 runs. Gardner's searing spin earned her two wickets in her second and third overs. In the end, New Zealand's miserable opener was over in just 14 overs.

The ESPNcricinfo Awards acknowledges the top individual batting and bowling performances in cricket during the previous calendar year. The awards are voted on by an independent panel of former cricketers, commentators, and senior ESPNcricinfo writers.