T20 World Cup : New Zealand pulled off a stunning upset to win their first Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai. Despite entering the tournament on the back of ten consecutive losses, the White Ferns showcased their resilience and skill.
Batting first, New Zealand set a challenging target of 159 runs. They started strong, with a solid powerplay performance of 43 runs for 1 wicket. Key contributions came from Melie Kerr, who scored 43 runs and formed a crucial partnership of 57 with Brooke Halliday, who added 38 runs. The team accelerated towards the end, scoring 48 runs in the final five overs, capitalizing on South Africa’s lack of discipline with the ball, including 10 wides and three no-balls.
In response, South Africa began brightly, reaching 51 runs without loss, but the momentum shifted dramatically as they lost five wickets for just 26 runs. New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly leg-spinner Melie Kerr (3-24) and seamer Rosemary Mair (3-25), dismantled the South African batting lineup, ultimately restricting them to 126 runs. Kerr’s standout performance with both bat and ball earned her the tournament’s leading wicket-taker title, marking a remarkable turnaround for a team that faced low expectations heading into the competition.
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South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, made a solid start with a fluent 33 runs, helping her team reach 47-0 in the initial six overs. However, the turning point came when New Zealand’s spin trio tightened their grip on the game, claiming the crucial wicket of all-rounder Marizanne Kapp for just eight runs. The South African batting order struggled under mounting pressure, with Tazmin Brits’ 17 being the second-highest score. The team saw a collapse, with key players like Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, and Sune Luus all falling for single-digit scores.
This defeat marked the second consecutive year that South Africa finished as runners-up in the tournament. In contrast, New Zealand delivered a complete performance when it mattered most, culminating in tears of joy for seasoned players Suzie Bates and captain Sophie Devine.
In a historic move for gender equality in sports, the ICC introduced equal prize money for its men’s and women’s tournaments. New Zealand will take home $2.34 million (£1.75 million), while South Africa will receive $1.7 million (£878,000), highlighting a significant step forward for women’s cricket.
New Zealand’s Aggressive Batting Secures Historic T20 World Cup Win as South Africa Falls Short Again
In a tournament marked by low scores, New Zealand’s batting showed early aggression, with opener Georgia Plimmer making a bold move against Marizanne Kapp. Although Plimmer fell for nine runs, Suzie Bates contributed 32, and Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine steadied the innings after a shaky start at 53-2. Devine’s dismissal for six raised concerns, but Kerr kept the score moving, supported by Brooke Halliday’s aggressive running.
Kerr later hit back-to-back boundaries, and a costly final over from Ayabonga Khaka allowed New Zealand to post a strong total. South Africa struggled to chase the target, despite Wolvaardt’s efforts, as Kerr set a new tournament record with 15 wickets. This loss marked another painful near-miss for South Africa in their pursuit of a global cricket title.
New Zealand unexpectedly won the Women’s T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai.
