 "WATCH: New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, teammates celebrate emotionally after historic Women's T20 World Cup title win in Dubai")
Emotions took over as soon as New Zealand defeated South Africa Sunday to clinch their maiden Women's T20 World Cup title in Dubai. The ICC title win was also redemptions of sorts for the White Ferns who finished as runners-up in 2009 and 2010. New Zealand’s 32 runs victory in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was followed by surreal scenes as players including captain Sophie Devine, pacer Jess Kerr, and other teammates burst into tears of joy.
“I’m a little bit speechless and I’m just so stoked to get the win, considering what this team’s been through and yeah, it’s what dreams are made of,” player-of-the-match and player-of-the-tournament Amelia Kerr said while taking to the broadcasters.
New Zealand players in tears after their win !! ❤️#INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #T20WorldCup #SAvsNZ #Siraj #NZvsIND #T20WomensWorldCup2024 #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/MBnic6HIC9
— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng) October 20, 2024
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNew Zealand entered the tournament after 10 consecutive T20 defeats but turned their fortunes around after thrashing India in their opening match and beating West Indies in the semi-finals.
I've watched this 7000 times
— Cameron Ponsonby (@cameronponsonby) October 21, 2024
📽️ @ICC pic.twitter.com/aZC0RcTxAe
“I started to dream last night about what it feels to hold the trophy with this team, didn’t want to get to ahead of us,” said Devine, who played during New Zealand’s 2010 defeat.
What happened in the final?
South Africa managed only 126/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scoring for the Proteas with 33 runs off 27 balls.
Openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits provided a strong start by forming a 51-run partnership before Fran Jonas dismissed Brits in the seventh over.
Despite suffering from cramps after her heroics with the bat, Kerr dismissed Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch in the same over while Rosemary Mair also took three wickets.
https://t.co/1qwFs8sULC https://t.co/3YbdQzCbYp pic.twitter.com/Oj6rR81AZg
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 21, 2024
Earlier, South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl, striking early as Georgia Plimmer was dismissed for nine in the second over.
Following the early setback, New Zealand went on to post an impressive total of 158 runs - the second-highest in a Women’s T20 World Cup final - scoring 73 runs in the last six overs.
Suzie Bates, playing in a women’s record 334th international match, led the top order with 32 before being bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba in the eighth over.
The White Ferns were under some pressure in the middle overs after losing captain Sophie Devine, but 24-year-old Kerr (43 off 38) and Brooke Halliday (38), added 57 runs to power them to 158.
With agency inputs
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