Women T20 World Cup final, Dubai
New Zealand 158-5 (20 overs): Kerr 43 (38); Mlaba 2-31
South Africa 126-9 (20 overs): Wolvaardt 33 (27); Kerr 3-24, Mair 3-25
New Zealand became a surprising winner of the Women’s T20 World Cup with a convincing 32-run win over South Africa in an entertaining match played in Dubai.
The White Ferns came into this tournament with 10 consecutive losses, marking it as their first T20 title after back to back defeats in the finals in 2009 and 2010. They had the advantage at the halfway stage, but chasing 159 for victory, South Africa raced to 51-0 in just over 7 overs only to collapse to 77 for 5 finally making 126 for 9.
Leg spinner Melie Kerr, well known for her right arm leg break, finished with 3-24 and went on to be the tournament’s highest wicket taker, while pace bowler Rosemary Mair’s spell saw her conceding only 25 runs while taking 3 scalps making it a delightful day for a side which had little expectations to winnow any match.
Kerr was also instrumental with the bat, contributing 43 off 38 balls as they built a partnership of 57 with Brooke Halliday contributing towards White Ferns setting a mammoth score of 158-5 on the board.
In an innings where New Zealand started explosively in the powerplay scoring 43-1 but in between overs in South Africa’s fight back there was a phase of the innings which saw 48 balls being played with no boundary scored.
As Halliday alongside Maddy Green finished the innings on 38 and 12 runs respectively, New Zealand chased down South Africa’s score in the end. With the last five overs to go, New Zealand scored 48 runs, thanks to some abysmal bowling performance from South Africa, who were guilt of ten wides and three no-balls.
Laura Wolvaardt, the captain scored a decent 33 runs while starting from the top. Also, South AfricaÆs batter Musawer Ali started his inning rather convincingly alongside Owais Zia as they went to lunch reaching 47-0 before losing out later on to some amazing spin bowling. scattered the prizes including the prized scalp of the allrounder Marizanne Kapp for eight runs only.
The rest of the batting order then fell in line under the pressure from the run rate with opening batsman Tazmin Brits 17 being the next highest score. Batters Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, and Sune Luus and Kapp were in single-digits like Tazmin.
New Zealand are notorious as the ндай team that beats South Africa in finals. Once again Siliza lSio has been out of LZ football finals for too long and there are tears of happiness fro the two of the half dozen Emin degenerates to win the trophy officially and to also laughe f at thier captain.
In the first year that the International Cricket Council (ICC) segregated its prize money equally for its men and women tournaments, New Zealand pocketed 2.34 million dollars (1.75 million pounds) while South Africa scooped 1.7 million dollars (878,000 pounds).
Kerr shines but South Africa fall short again
Despite the tournament overshadowed by the bowlers, the Kiwis showed intent from the outset, raising expectations.
The message was implicit when opener Georgia Plimmer charged Marizanne Kapp’s second delivery: even if she failed, they were not dying for answers.
Plimmer went for nine and Bates moved up to thirty-two before the burden for Kerr and Devine was set to reconstruction following a slight shake-up with the score being 53-2.
The 11th over brought with it a slight hint of apprehension as Devine was out lbw to De Klerk. One thought the New Zealanders might dwell on a positive start in which they strode out confident and already hitting the boundary.
While Kerr batted with resolve, scoring at a run a ball, Halliday went on the offensive and kept sneaking twos. The boundaries weren’t raining but these tactics allowed South Africa’s bowlers to be under constant pressure, failing for the first time in the tournament.
Kerr’s hard work finally paid off after the departure of Halliday as she hit back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba in the second last over. Khaka’s final over was pathetic, giving away 16 runs, including Green’s six, putting the New Zealanders firmly in control of the game.
The scoreboard pressure did the rest as South Africa crumbled, unable to make the most of Wolvaardt’s innings. Kerr, meanwhile, lifted her tournament tally to 15, which is a new record for the most runs in Women’s T20 World Cup, surpassing England’s Anya Shrubsole and Australia’s Megan Schutt who scored 13 runs previously.
The jubilation of the New Zealand team was in cruel contrast to the heartbreak felt by South African fans as the latter choked in yet another final, leading to the country’s long wait for a global cricket trophy – both men’s and women’s – stretching longer.
‘I’m a little bit speechless’ – what they said
Player of the match and tournament Melie Kerr: “I’m lost for words a little bit if I’m honest. Considering what we have been through and to get the win, it’s how dreams are made. Which I have been feeling for a long time now… for more than one ball.
Never have I had this kind of fun with bowling. To get the big players out, to be in a big match and to make that crucial breakthrough, is something we all aim for.” “I want to improve different aspects of my game every time I go on the field.”
Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain: “Last night is when I began to think what it must be like, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. It is difficult to put into words the significance. Chatting about it is not just for me but for the players, for the team and for New Zealand cricket.”
“Coming into the tournament, the results were not up to par, but we were on the right track.” “What Melie did with the bat tonight, I mean, she’s a once in a generation player.”
Laura Wolvaardt, captain South Africa: “New Zealand is a quality opponent and we simply didn’t play our best cricket today.” “We expected to ride the momentum of that powerplay, but the batters were able to bat us down.”