New Zealand produced a bowling performance for the ages, overpowering South Africa by 32 runs in the final on Sunday (October 20, 2024) to be crowned Women's T20 World Cup champions for the first time. (Highlights | Scorecard)
Rosemary Mair and picked up three wickets apiece as the White Ferns stifled the Proteas batting, restrictiไng them to just 126 runs for the loss of nine wickets in response to a 159-run target.
It turned out to be a historic Sunda💖y for New Zealand cricket as the White Ferns got their hands on the ICC troℱphy hours after the men recorded their first Test win in India after 36 years.
South Africa, playing their second successive final, sent New Zealand in to bat and the Sophie Devine-led side thrived under pressure to post an abov🧸e par 158 for five at the Dubai 🦩International Cricket Stadium.
Amelia Kerr collected 43 off 38 balls✨ while Brooke Halliday made an impactful 38 off 28 balls to push New Zealand beyond 150 in what has been a low scoring ꧃tournament.
South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 🔥off 🦹27) took her team to 47 for no loss in the powerplay before New Zealand bowlers were able to stifle the opposition.
South Africa could not keep with the scoring rate and ꦡended with 126 for nine in 20 overs. Kerr starred with her leg-spin as well, ending with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
It was a remarkable change of fortunes for New Zealand, who had come into the tournament with the baggage of 10 losses in a row. They were the best bowling unit in the competition by a fair distance and on Sunday, improved the🍎ir bat𒉰ting by a few notches.
There was no coming back from South Africa after they lost their gutsy leader W🦋olvaardt in the 10th over. Kerr got the prized🎃 wicket as Wolvaardt, in her attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, found Suzie Bates at cover.
When the hero of the semifinal, Anneke Bosch, p🧜erished five balls later, the writing was on the wall. South Africa's untested middle-order could not respond to the pressure put by the New Zealand bowlers.
Earlier, Wolvaardt won the toss and chose toܫ bowl first.
Playing XIs
South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinal♓o Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
New Zealand Women: Suzi🅷e Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr,🍌 Sophie Devine (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas.
(With PTI inputs)
