New Zealand Women Crowned World Champions in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Defeat South Africa by 32 Runs

New Delhi: The South African team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, once again earning the reputation of ‘chokers’. New Zealand emerged victorious by a margin of 32 runs, clinching the title in a thrilling encounter. The title match between South Africa Women and New Zealand Women took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that ultimately backfired.

CHAMPIONS

New Zealand win their maiden Women’s #T20WorldCup title #WhateverItTakes #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/DOfyWZgLUf

— ICC (@ICC) October 20, 2024

Batting first, New Zealand put 158 ​​runs on the board for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Amelia Kerr played the biggest innings for New Zealand. She played a brilliant and important innings of 43 runs with the help of 4 fours in 38 balls. Apart from this, Suzie Bates contributed 32 and Brooke Hadley contributed 38 runs. During this, Nonkululeko Mlaba took the maximum of two wickets for South Africa. Apart from this, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk got one wicket each.

Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair broke South Africa’s back:

Chasing the target of 159 runs given by New Zealand, South Africa could only score 126/9 in 20 overs despite captain Laura Wolvaardt’s innings of 33 runs off 27 balls. South Africa’s openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave a good start to the team. There was an important partnership of 51 runs in 41 balls for the first wicket between the two. This excellent partnership ended in the 7th over. Fran Jones sent Tazmin Brits to the pavilion on a personal score of 17 runs. After this, the African team kept losing wickets. Africa got the second biggest blow in the form of captain Lara Wolvaardt in the 10th over. After this, the team could not recover. Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair took three wickets each for New Zealand.