New Zealand beat South Africa in the final to win the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. Here is the Wisden XI of the Tournament.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa – captain)
6 matches | 223 runs at 44.60, SR 113, HS: 59*; 1 fifty
Wolvaardt rounded off an excellent World Cup, where she crossed 30 five times in six innings, with 42 in the semi-final and 33 in the final. On another day, the second effort would have won them the final.
Georgia Plimmer (New Zealand)
6 matches | 150 runs at 25.00, SR 119, HS: 53, 1 fifty
New Zealand came into the World Cup with 10 defeats on the trot. Plimmer may claim that it was her onslaught inside the powerplay that set the tone for the match against India, and New Zealand’s remarkable journey, throughout which she kept contributing consistently.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)
4 matches | 151 runs at 50.33, SR 125, HS: 62*, 1 fifty
Wyatt-Hodge’s fifty might have come against Scotland, but there were two special innings – the 41 against Bangladesh and the 43 against South Africa in low-scoring matches in tricky conditions; and she was starting to look dangerous against the West Indies when she got out.
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
6 matches | 90 runs at 30.00, SR 145, HS: 43 | 5 wickets at 20.40, ec 4.63, BBI: 2-14
The 4-0-25-0 in the final was Kapp’s most expensive spell of the World Cup, which sums up how well she bowled in tournament after starting with a brilliant opening spell against the West Indies. But there were three key cameos in four innings as well.
Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
6 matches | 135 runs at 27, SR 90, HS: 43 | 15 wickets at 7.33, ec 4.85, BBI: 4-26 | Ct: 4
Most wickets in any edition of the World Cup. Player of the Tournament. In the final, most runs and most wickets from either side and the Player of the Match. Enough said.
Deandra Dottin (West Indies)
5 matches | 120 runs at 40, SR 162, HS: 33 | 5 wickets at 7.60, ec 5.42, BBI: 4-22 | Ct: 4
The World Boss did nearly everything possible to take the semi-final away from New Zealand, but there was only so much one person can do. She finished with nine sixes in a World Cup where only Qiana Joseph (3) hit more than two. The fielding deserves a mention too.
Isabella Gaze (New Zealand – wicketkeeper)
6 matches | 28 runs at 28, SR 127, HS: 20* | Ct: 1, St: 2
All three were excellent behind the stumps, which makes Gaze a difficult choice over Nigar Sultana Joty (top scorer but struck at only 87) and Alyssa Healy. While Healy had more runs and scored quicker, Australia would have won the two games without her two cameos. Gaze, on the other hand, played a more decisive role in the semi-final.
Afy Fletcher (West Indies)
5 matches | 10 wickets at 10.50, ec 6.38, BBI: 3-21
After an ordinary first game, Fletcher came to her elements with 10 wickets in four games (a minimum of two in each) to finish as the joint third-highest wicket-taker of the World Cup.
Annabel Sutherland (Australia)
5 matches | 92 runs at 10.22, ec 5.15, BBI: 3-21
Sutherland was just as brilliant throughout the competition, particularly with her yorkers at the death. What gave her the edge over Megan Schutt is her spell in the semi-final, where she impressed despite Australia’s shock defeat.
Rosemary Mair (New Zealand)
6 matches | 10 wickets at 11.70, ec 5.08, BBI: 4-19
The 4-19 derailed India to end New Zealand’s streak of 10 defeats. The 2-22 kept Australia in check. She went at 4.25, 6.00, and 4.00 in the next three games. And in the final, Mair wrecked the South African middle-order with a three-wicket burst to secure her – and New Zealand’s – rightful place in history.
Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa)
6 matches | 12 wickets at 11.33, ec 5.67, BBI: 4-29
Only Kerr got more wickets at the World Cup than Mlaba, 10 of whose 12 wickets were of batters in the top six. She also went for under a run an over.
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