The New Zealand cricket team celebrated their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title after defeating South Africa by 32 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
This victory marks a significant achievement for the Kiwis, who previously fell short in the finals in 2009 and 2010 against England and Australia, respectively.
In this year’s final, New Zealand set a target of 159 runs, building on a solid performance from their batters.
Despite early momentum from South Africa, who started their chase strong at 51 without losing a wicket, the tide quickly turned. The collapse began with the dismissal of Tazmin Brits, followed by captain Laura Wolvaardt, who managed to score 33 runs off 27 balls. The South African batting lineup struggled thereafter, with only Chloe Tryon and Annerie Dercksen adding 14 and 10 runs, respectively.
Ultimately, South Africa concluded their innings at 126 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair were standout performers for New Zealand, each taking three crucial wickets. Eden Carson, Fran Jones, and Brooke Halliday also contributed with one wicket apiece, showcasing the Kiwis’ exceptional bowling performance throughout the match.
Earlier, after winning the toss, South Africa opted to bowl first. New Zealand’s innings featured a solid effort from Suzie Bates, who scored 32 runs, and Amelia Kerr, who was the top scorer with 43 runs off 38 balls.
Brooke Halliday added a valuable 38 runs from 28 deliveries, helping New Zealand reach a competitive total of 158 runs despite losing five wickets.
With this historic win, the Kiwis have finally secured their place in T20 World Cup history, celebrating a long-awaited triumph.
