New Zealand have won their maiden Women's T20 World Cup title, beating South Africa by 32 runs in the final in Dubai today (October 20).
The two finalists each shrugged off a group-stage defeat, both making the final despite finishing second in the standings. South Africa beat Australia in their semi-final, making this the first edition of the tournament since 2009's inaugural event not to feature women's cricket's dominant side in the showpiece clash.
New Zealand overcame West Indies, having finished second in what was billed as a group of death, eliminating India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the process. The White Ferns' bilateral form had been a concern coming into the competition, with 12 defeats in 13 T20Is coming into the competition. But they found form when it mattered and saved something close to a complete performance for the final.
Batting first. Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr shrugged off the early departure to lay a strong platform, taking the score past 50. Bates, who broke the record for the most international appearances in women's cricket in the game, fell for 32 off 31, while Amelia Kerr top-scored with 43. But it was Brooke Halliday's punchy cameo of 38 from 28 that took the score from competitive to imposing, and in what was a low-scoring tournament, a total of 158-6 looked like plenty.
South Africa started strongly, emerging from the powerplay unscathed and maintaining the required run rate. But New Zealand tightened the screws, keeping the Proteas boundaryless for the first three overs following the first six, with Fran Jonas seeing off Tazmin Brits.
The tenth over, delivered by Amelia Kerr, decisively turned the game. The Kiwi leggie looked in some discomfort, limping during her first over, but she still managed to see off both Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, the two half-centurions in the semi-final.
From 64-3 at the halfway stage, South Africa never looked like staging a revival. Wickets fell regularly and South Africa found the fence just twice in the second half of the chase. New Zealand triumphed by 32 runs.
Women's T20 World Cup finalists
Year | Venue | Details of final |
2009 | Lord’s | England beat New Zealand by 3 wickets with 18 balls to spare |
2010 | Bridgetown | Australia beat New Zealand by 3 runs |
2012 | Premadasa | Australia beat England by 4 runs |
2014 | Mirpur | Australia beat England by 6 wickets with 30 balls to spare |
2016 | Kolkata | West Indies beat Australia by 8 wickets with 6 balls to spare |
2018 | North Sound | Australia beat England by 8 wickets with 29 balls to spare |
2020 | Melbourne | Australia beat India by 85 runs |
2023 | Cape Town | Australia beat South Africa by 19 runs |
2024 | Dubai | New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs |
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