New Zealand beat South Africa to win their first Women’s T20 World Cup as Amelia Kerr stars with bat and ball
- New Zealand defeated South Africa by 32 runs to end their wait for the trophy
- South Africa could not come close to their total of 158-5 in Dubai
- Amelia Kerr top scored with 43 before taking three wickets for 24 runs
All-rounder Amelia Kerr played with bat and ball as New Zealand defeated South Africa by 32 runs to win their first Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday, after finishing runners-up in 2009 and 2010.
South Africa managed just 126/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Laura Wolvaardt top scorer for the Proteas with 33 runs off 27 balls.
Openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Britten made a strong start by forming a 51-run partnership before Fran Jonas dismissed Britten in the seventh over.
Despite suffering from cramps after her exploits with the bat, Kerr dismissed Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch in the same time, while Rosemary Mair also took three wickets.
Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl, striking early when Georgia Plimmer was dismissed for nine in the second over.
New Zealand defeated South Africa by 32 runs to win their first Women’s Twenty20 World Cup
All-rounder Amelia Kerr played with bat and ball to help her team claim the trophy
After the early setback, New Zealand posted an impressive total of 158 runs – the second highest in a Women’s T20 World Cup final – scoring 73 runs in the last six overs.
Suzie Bates, playing in the 334th women’s international match, led the top with 32 before being bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba in the eighth over.
The White Ferns were under some pressure in the middle overs after losing captain Sophie Devine, but 24-year-old Kerr (43 off 38) and Brooke Halliday (38) added 57 runs to take them to 158.
“I’m a bit speechless and I’m so excited to get the win, considering what this team has been through and yeah, that’s what dreams are made of,” Kerr said after winning both player of the match and as well as the player-of-the-tournament.
New Zealand has finally lifted the trophy after finishing second in 2009 and 2010
New Zealand entered the tournament on the back of ten consecutive Twenty20 defeats, but turned their fortunes around after beating India in their opening match and defeating the West Indies in the semi-finals.
“I started dreaming last night about what it feels like to hold the trophy with this team, I didn’t want to come out in front of us,” said Devine, who played in New Zealand’s 2010 defeat.
‘We all know Kerr is a once-in-a-generation player. What she was able to do tonight was incredible.
“Suze is the most capped player in the history of women’s football, and she thinks she can play with so much aggression and fearlessness. It’s just special to have her by our side.”