An Amelia Kerr-inspired New Zealand are Women’s T20 World Cup champions for the first time after inflicting a second successive defeat in the final on South Africa, winning by 32 runs in Dubai.
The White Ferns, who had lost 10 consecutive T20 internationals heading into the tournament and 16 of their previous 19, posted 158-5 after being inserted with Kerr (43 off 38) top-scoring.
The all-rounder, dropped on 28 by Ayabonga Khaka, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 57 from 44 balls with Brooke Halliday (38 off 28) after a quiet period in the middle overs had followed a positive start instigated by veteran opener Suzie Bates (32 off 31).
Leg-spinner Kerr (3-24), bowling with a hobble, perhaps due to her earlier exertions with the bat, then took her wicket tally in the competition to a leading 15 as South Africa, beaten by Australia in the 2023 showpiece in Cape Town, were restricted to 126-9 in reply.
The Proteas raced to 51-0 inside seven overs through skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 off 27) and Tazmin Brits (17 off 18), only for Kerr to have Wolvaardt pouched at cover and then dismiss Anneke Bosch – the player who had powered South Africa past favourites Australia in the semi-finals – for nine after a successful caught-behind review.
Wolvaardt’s side slumped from that point to suffer heartbreak in the final once again and are still to win a World Cup in either the 50-over or 20-over formats, with New Zealand adding the T20 title to the ODI trophy they lifted in 2000 after a success in the UAE that few would have predicted ahead of this year’s event.
The White Ferns’ victory – which handed stalwarts Bates, 37 and skipper Sophie Devine, 35, their first global titles in possibly their last attempt – capped a superb day for the nation with New Zealand’s men’s side having clinched their first Test triumph in India in 36 years.
More to follow.