Dubai: The ICC 2024 T20 World Cup was held in the United Arab Emirates. However, the New Zealand and South African cricket teams qualified for the final after winning the league and knockout rounds. Subsequently, the grand finale of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup was held at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand in the final match on Sunday (October 20). Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates opened with a strong start, but Plimmer’s attempted six off Ayabonga Khaka was caught by Sune Luus for just 9 runs off 7 balls. Then, Bates soon followed and was bowled out by Nonkululeko Mlaba for 32 for 31 which included 3 fours.
Nadine de Klerk removed Captain Sophie Devine for six runs to put their opponents under pressure. After that, The Proteas did a great job of restricting New Zealand batters in the middle overs as not a single boundary was hit for 49 deliveries, between 5.4 and 13.5 overs. Halliday broke the shackles and went on to stitch a 57-run partnership with Kerr before Chloe Tryon dismissed Halliday (38) and was caught at deep backward square-leg by Anneke Bosch.
Amelia Kerr continued the onslaught and scored consecutive boundaries in the 19th over but was dismissed on the penultimate delivery by Nonkululeko Mlaba for 43 off 38 which included 4 fours. Finally, Maddy Green’s late six helped New Zealand who came into the field, accumulate 158-5 runs in 20 overs. Chasing 159 runs, skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, gave South Africa a great start.
The team racked up 47 runs in the powerplay and looked to build on the great start until Tazmin was dismissed by Fran Jonas for 17 runs off 18 balls. Then, Amelia Kerr dismissed the South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt for 33 off 27 which included 5 fours was caught at extra cover with Suzie. The removal of the skipper sprung life into the New Zealand bowling attack as a mini-collapse followed soon after. Kerr removed Anneke Bosch (9), on the last ball of the same over to reduce South Africa to 64/3 at the halfway mark.
After that, Eden Carson claimed a crucial wicket of Marizanne Kapp for 8 runs, caught by Plimmer. Rosemary Mair removed Nadine de Klerk for 6 runs, caught by Amelia Kerr. The situation escalates with Halliday bowled out Luus for 8 runs, caught by Bates. Amelia Kerr, who set the record for most wickets in a single edition of the women’s T20 World Cup, returned to take the scalp of Annerie Dercksen (10) to further add to a historic campaign. At last, Mair dismissed
Chloe Tryon for 14 runs and in the same over Sinalo Jafta was dismissed for 6 runs. So, South Africa secured only 126-9 runs in 20 overs and lost miserably. The Proteas once again suffered heartbreak and lost by 32 runs. On the other hand, the New Zealand women’s team won by 32 runs and set a record by winning the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.
