DUBAI: New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr led from the front to guide her team to their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa in the final here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa, the runners-up of the 2023 edition, once again failed to win the trophy as they could not chase the 159-run target.
Amelia Kerr put on a stellar performance, earning the Player of the Match award. She showcased her all-round capabilities by scoring 43 runs off 38 balls and taking 3 wickets for 24 runs.
While chasing 159, South Africa got off to a flying start with a 51-run opening stand between skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits.
However, Fran Jonas provided the breakthrough with the wicket of Brits, who scored 17 off 18 to disrupt South Africa’s momentum.
Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 33 off 27 before falling prey to her counterpart Amelia Kerr, leaving South Africa reeling at 59-2.
New Zealand bowlers did not allow South Africa to make a comeback and restricted them to 126-9 courtesy of timely wickets.
Apart from the opening batters, only Chloe Tryon (14) and Annerie Dercksen (10) managed to reach double figures for South Africa.
For New Zealand, Rosemary Mair also took three wickets along with Kerr, while Jonas, Eden Carson and Brooke Halliday managed one wicket each.
Earlier, South Africa invited New Zealand to bat first in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and earned an early breakthrough in the second over.
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Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Georgia Plimmer (9) before Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr joined hands to construct a cautious partnership of 37 runs.
Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the budding partnership, removing Bates, who was playing at 32 off 31 with the help of three boundaries.
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine could not add much to the total, falling victim to Nadine de Klerk after scoring 6.
Brooke Halliday joined settled Amelia Kerr and together they added 57 runs for the fourth wicket from 44 balls to push the team’s total to 127.
Chloe Tryon halted New Zealand’s momentum as she ended Halliday’s entertaining knock of 38 runs from 28 balls, which featured three boundaries.
Meanwhile, Amelia Kerr fell prey to Mlaba in the next over after playing a 43-run knock, which conceded 38 balls and included four boundaries.
Maddy Green then struck an unbeaten 12 off 6 to take the team’s total to 158-5 in their allocated 20 overs.
Nonkululeko Mlaba led South Africa's bowling with figures of 2-31, while Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk bagged one wicket each.
PLAYING XIs
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
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