'It was the most special day': Skipper Luus proud of Proteas despite World Cup heartache

The wait for a first-ever Cricket World Cup trophy continues for South Africa, but Proteas women's captain, Sune Luus, says she is immensely proud of what her charges achieved at their home T20 showpiece. 

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South Africa lost by 19 runs to six-time champions Australia in the T20 World Cup final at Newlands on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on an epic campaign that ended with 14 000 packing into the iconic stadium to support this side as they broke barriers. 

No Proteas side had ever contested a World Cup final, and very few would have predicted that the Proteas would be the first to do it here. 

They were overwhelming underdogs in their semi-final against England at the same venue on Friday, but they got over that hurdle only to meet the greatest women's cricket side in history in the tournament decider. 

Australia have played in the last six T20 World Cup finals, and while they were certainly pushed by the Proteas at times on Sunday, they were largely comfortable in getting over the line. 

What is of far more significance, though, is that this Proteas side stunned the cricketing world on their journey, winning over an often sceptical South African public in the process. 

The crowd on Sunday roared throughout, cheering every run that came off a South African bat. 

That, Luus says, is the takeaway from this tournament. 

"I'm definitely proud of every teammate of mine. We've done an incredible job to get to the final, and I think to put up a fight against a team like Australia ... I just feel really proud," she told media after the match. 

"It was the most special day we could ask for. When we started this tournament, I don't think this was something we