DUBAI: New Zealand clinched the Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday, defeating South Africa by 32 runs, with standout bowling performances from Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair leading the charge.
New Zealand’s Batting
New Zealand batted first, with opener Suzie Bates leading the charge by scoring 32 runs off 31 balls. Her innings came after teammate Georgia Plimmer’s early dismissal in the second over. Plimmer was caught by Sune Luus while attempting a big hit over long-on, only to provide more height than distance. Bates was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba, who delivered a 91kph ball that knocked out her leg stump.
Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday emerged as the top scorers for the Kiwis, contributing 43 and 38 runs, respectively. Halliday struck three fours during her innings before getting out in the eighteenth over while trying to pull the ball toward the on-side, resulting in a catch by Anneke Bosch.
Kerr, who also hit four fours, fell to Mlaba in the nineteenth over after attempting a pull shot toward deep midwicket, where Tazmin Brits took the catch.
New Zealand’s Bowling
After setting a target of 158 runs, New Zealand bowled South Africa out for 126, claiming nine wickets in total. Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair were the standout bowlers, each taking three wickets.
The Kiwis gained an early breakthrough with Fran Jonas dismissing Brits in the seventh over, who hit a catch to long-on, caught by Maddy Green.
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Kerr then began her onslaught, taking two wickets in the tenth over, starting with South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 33 runs off 27 balls, including five fours. Wolvaardt was caught by Bates, followed shortly by Bosch, who was caught by wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze after edging a slog. Bosch had been a key player for South Africa in the semi-final against Australia.
Kerr secured her final wicket in the eighteenth over, dismissing Annerie Dercksen as she attempted a shot toward extra cover, which Bates caught.
Mair made her mark in the thirteenth over by taking out Nadine de Klerk, who edged a catch to backward point, caught by Kerr. Mair added two more wickets in the nineteenth over, dismissing Chloe Tyron and Sinalo Jafta, the latter falling to a full-length delivery that uprooted the middle stump.
Eden Carson and Halliday contributed with a wicket each, dismissing Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus, respectively.