New Zealand, the Women’s T20 World Cup cricket champions, secured a 32-run win over South Africa in the final, marking one of the finest days in the tournament.
Amelie Kerr, a Kiwi allrounder, struck 43 and returned to take three wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The women’s team had ended a 14-year wait to win the World Cup trophy after losing to England in the inaugural edition in 2009, while the men’s team wrapped up their first Test win in India after 36 years.
The Kiwis played to a plan and attacked South African bowling from the start, taking turns to go on the offensive while the other end ensured there was a set batter. This has been their success formula against India in the opener and the West Indies in the semi-finals. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Kiwis never took their foot off the pedal.
When skipper Sophie Devine was dismissed just after the break, South Africa seemed to have made the turnaround. Brooke Halliday ensured that the Kiwis stayed through the course with a power-packed display. The early dew meant that the South African spinners could not get the turn off the surface and had to depend on variations.
When Halliday went in the 18th over, she stringed a 57-run partnership in seven overs. Amelia Kerr, who managed to do the bulk of the scoring in the 50-run opening partnership, managed to do the bulk of the scoring. South Africa relied on the openers throughout the tournament, but once the Kiwis broke through, the rest of the South African batting caved in after facing a mounting run rate.
Wolvaardt tried to break the shackles but was dismissed, and two top batters fell with the addition of eight runs. New Zealanders ensured that they didn’t give the pace and width to score freely, and Amelia Kerr had to suffer the disappointment of being the top-scorer and end up on the losing side.
Brief scores: New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs. New Zealand 158 for five in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 32, Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2 for 31) South Africa 126 for nine in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Rosemary Mair 3 for 25, Amelia Kerr 3 for 24). Player of the final: Amelia Kerr.
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