New Zealand women won the World Cup title after defeating South African women by 32 runs in the women’s T20 World Cup 2024 finals in Dubai.
October 20, 2024, was a memorable day in New Zealand cricket as the New Zealand men’s team also achieved their first test win in India after 36 years.
Sophie Devine-led New Zealand women batted first and posted an impressive total of 158 runs for five on the pitch which has been favouring low scores in the tournament.
Amelia Kerr collected 43 runs off 38 deliveries while Brooke Halliday scored 38 runs off 28 balls to raise the total of the side in the scorecard.
👑 CHAMPIONS 👑
New Zealand win their maiden Women’s #T20WorldCup title 🏆#WhateverItTakes #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/Ab0lbjRM4w
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 20, 2024
Responding to the total, South Africa scored 47 runs for no loss in the powerplay. However, the New Zealand bowlers managed to restrict the increasing run rate where South Africa secured 126 runs in the 20 overs.
Kerr picked three wickets in her four-over spell, while Rosemary Mair picked three wickets as well for the side. New Zealand has broken their 10 consecutive loss in the tournament.
Amelia Kerr was named as the Player of the match and the series. While speaking in the post-match conference, Kerr said, “I’m a little bit speechless and I’m stoked to get the win considering what this team’s been through.”
“It’s what dreams are made of. I thought the wicket was pretty good but slowed up a bit which I thought was probably not a bad thing with us bowling second. The way Brooke came out and hit, it was an outstanding contribution from everyone with Maddy hitting that six at the end.”
“She (Brooke) took so much pressure off me. I was struggling out there a lot and I was probably finding it a little bit hard to time the ball and she just came out there and hit two pockets and she did it in the semi-final and to do it again in the final is class.”
“It wasn’t too bad (on her cramps). I was cramping up while batting but afterwards in the field when I threw the ball I got cramped and found myself hiding in the ring at short third but just grateful that we got the job done.”
“The first ball I bowled I cramped up and I thought I’m not going to be able to bowl this fast today but I think the plans I’ve had this tournament and the wrong’un coming into play here has helped me have a lot of success, as well as the other spin group of our team, have been outstanding in the bowling partnership.”
“Bowling’s what first got me in the White Ferns and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to keep getting better at. I think I’ve said it all along throughout the last year, it’s the spin group we have – I’ve never enjoyed bowling so much, they make it so much fun and I’m just enjoying myself when I’m out there.”
“It’s always better when you get the big players out. You want to be a big match player. Bowling through those middle overs, it’s when the best batters are constructing their innings and if you can make a breakthrough it can push teams back and that’s my job.”
“Wickets come and go and thankfully they’ve come my way this tournament. (on playing with the three seniors and the youngsters together) I absolutely love it.”
“I’ve played international cricket now for a while so I’ve got to share the field and experience playing with three of our greats but then to be a similar age to our young ones, it feels like you can build great connections with them all and that’s what our team has.”
“They’re such special people and I absolutely love playing for the White Ferns and they mean so much to me,” concluded Amelia Kerr.
