While the tournament started with a shock result with Sri Lanka beating the hosts and eventual finalists South Africa, the rest of the fixtures followed the expected trends and the final four ended up being a repeat of the 2020 World Cup.
Only then though, when Cape Town was treated to two nail-biting semi-finals, did the competition feel alive.
“We’ve seen improvements from some teams,” said Hartley. “Pakistan for me were the most-improved side but they dipped after they started well.
“South Africa didn’t win the World Cup but they won the hearts of their country.”
England batter Tammy Beaumont, who was working for Sky Sports, said: “Women’s cricket is certainly moving forward. Australia are getting better and the top three or four nations are raising the game, but below that there is a really good level of competition.”
And on the occasion of the final, it felt like South Africa’s achievement – it was the first time they have had a men’s or women’s team in a world final – played out in front of thousands of adoring and passionate fans, was the story.
It is not that the result of the final felt irrelevant, but more an inevitability – and the question has to be asked whether that is sustainable for the international game going forward.
“I don’t think Australia’s dominance is a good thing,” said Elwiss.
“It’s good to have a benchmark to aspire to, and it was great to see South Africa reach this final, but I don’t think any of us really believed they could do it without an outstanding performance and a poor one from Australia.”
But for South Africa, lessons must be learned.
In 2016, West Indies shocked the world by defeating Australia to claim T20 glory and there was a sense of excitement and of a potential shift in the game.
But since, they have drastically declined, going 15 T20 matches without a win in the build-up to this tournament and without a domestic set-up, they have failed to replace players that have retired.
Since then, England won the 50-over title in 2017 and Australia have won everything else.
“Days like the final are really important,” said former England captain Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports. “If it had been an England-Australia final again, it wouldn’t have been such a spectacle and you’re not growing the game.
“There will be girls in the crowd that will play the game because of what South Africa have done.”