New Zealand have reached the finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup final for the first time in 14 years, advancing to the top two after beating the West Indies by eight runs in final over thriller.
New Zealand will play the summit clash against South Africa on Sunday (October 20), ensuring that there will be a new winner crowned. While New Zealand have reached the finals twice before, in 2009 and 2010, they failed to get over the line against England and Australia, respectively.
South Africa, on the other hand, will play their second final in a row. They had lost to Australia in the final last year.
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against West Indies. They were led by their openers on a slow wicket, posting 48 in 8.1 overs before Suzie Bates departed for a 28-ball 26. The White Ferns lost wickets in quick succession and were reduced to 102-6 in 16.1 overs, with Deandra Dottin inflicting maximum damage. She ended with 4-22 and it was only because of a counter-attacking knock of 20* (14 balls) from Izabella Gaze that New Zealand managed 128-9 on the board.
Putting on a disciplined display with the ball, New Zealand gave away only 25 runs for two wickets in the first six overs as the pressure increased on West Indies. Despite some resistance from Dottin with the bat (33 in 22), which brought down the equation to 34 off the last 24 balls, the lack of support from the other end meant the required run rate kept climbing.
In the end though, it came to the last over after Zaida James brought the equation down to 11 runs needed off the last five balls. However, cool under pressure Sophie Devine castled her with a flatter delivery, pegging back her leg stump. West Indies could only manage two runs off the following three balls, falling short by eight runs.
The West Indies last reached the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2016, which was also when they won the trophy for the first time. A South Africa-New Zealand final also means that there will be a new winner for the first time in three editions, with Australia winning in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
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 | South Africa will New Zealand |
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