South Africa VS New Zealand Highlights Women T20 World Cup 2024 Final. The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium saw New Zealand claim their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by a comprehensive 32-run margin. The final, held on October 20, 2024, was a monumental event, marking New Zealand’s long-awaited triumph on the global stage. Amelia Kerr was the star of the show, delivering a remarkable all-round performance that earned her both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
New Zealand Dominance in the Final
Having won the toss and opted to bowl first, South Africa sought to leverage their bowling attack to limit New Zealand to a manageable total. However, the Kiwi batters had other plans. New Zealand Women posted a challenging total of 158/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to crucial contributions from Amelia Kerr (43) and Brooke Halliday (38). Despite some pressure from South Africa’s bowlers, Kerr’s brilliance with both bat and ball set the stage for a historic victory for the White Ferns.
New Zealand Innings: Kerr and Halliday Shine
New Zealand Women started the innings with veteran opener Suzie Bates leading from the front, scoring 32 off 31 balls. Bates, who became the most-capped player in Women’s International cricket during this match, demonstrated her experience with a steady start. After losing Georgia Plimmer (9) early, Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday anchored the innings, building a crucial partnership that took New Zealand from 70/3 to a respectable total of 158/5.
Kerr’s knock of 43 off 38 balls was pivotal, as she kept the scoreboard ticking with excellent strike rotation and timely boundaries. Brooke Halliday was equally impressive, scoring 38 off 28 balls with three boundaries, adding valuable runs during the middle overs. A late cameo from Maddy Green (12 off 6) pushed New Zealand’s total past the 150-mark, leaving South Africa with a daunting chase of 159.
Key Bowling Performances from South Africa
South Africa’s bowlers had moments of brilliance but struggled to contain New Zealand’s momentum. Nonkululeko Mlaba was the standout bowler for South Africa, picking up 2/31 in her four overs, including the vital wicket of Suzie Bates. Chloe Tryon (1/22) and Ayabonga Khaka (1/44) also made significant contributions, but it wasn’t enough to prevent New Zealand from posting a challenging total.
Bowling Figures for South Africa
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 |
| Ayabonga Khaka | 4 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 11.00 |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Chloe Tryon | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Nadine de Klerk | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Sune Luus | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
South Africa Response
South Africa’s chase of 159 began with high hopes, especially after their inspiring semifinal victory against Australia. Laura Wolvaardt, leading the side, gave her team a strong start, scoring 33 off 27 balls. Wolvaardt and fellow opener Tazmin Brits (17) took South Africa to 47/0 by the end of the powerplay, giving the Proteas a solid platform to build on.
However, New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Amelia Kerr, soon tightened the screws. Kerr’s double strike in the 9th over, removing both Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch (9), was the turning point of the match. South Africa quickly crumbled under pressure, losing wickets at regular intervals. From 51/1, they slid to 126/9 at the end of their 20 overs, falling 32 runs short of their target.
Key Batting Performances from South Africa
Laura Wolvaardt top-scored for South Africa with 33 but found little support from the middle order. Tazmin Brits contributed 17, while Chloe Tryon and Annerie Dercksen added 14 and 10 respectively. However, none of the Proteas batters managed to build the partnerships needed to chase down the total.
Batting Figures for South Africa
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | 33 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 122.22 |
| Tazmin Brits | 17 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 94.44 |
| Anneke Bosch | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 69.23 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Chloe Tryon | 14 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Sune Luus | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 88.88 |
| Annerie Dercksen | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 111.11 |
| Sinalo Jafta | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Ayabonga Khaka | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
New Zealand Bowling Masterclass
New Zealand’s bowlers were outstanding throughout South Africa’s chase. Amelia Kerr was the standout, finishing with figures of 3/24 in her four overs. Her dismissal of Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch in the same over shifted the momentum entirely in New Zealand’s favor. Rosemary Mair was equally effective, picking up 3/25 as South Africa’s middle order crumbled. Eden Carson (1/22) and Fran Jonas (1/28) also bowled tight spells, ensuring that the Proteas were never able to mount a serious challenge.
Bowling Figures for New Zealand
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemary Mair | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 |
| Eden Carson | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Fran Jonas | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Lea Tahuhu | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Amelia Kerr | 4 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Brooke Halliday | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4.00 |
Kerr All-Round Brilliance
Amelia Kerr was undoubtedly the player of the final. Not only did she top-score for New Zealand with 43 runs, but she also picked up three crucial wickets, including those of South Africa’s top performers. Her performance in the final capped a stellar tournament where she emerged as the Player of the Series for her consistent contributions with both bat and ball.
Kerr’s efforts in the middle overs, where she dismissed Wolvaardt and Bosch in quick succession, were the turning point of the match. South Africa’s middle-order collapse, coupled with Kerr’s tight bowling, ensured that New Zealand maintained control throughout the second innings.
Sophie Devine Final Bow
The victory also marked a sweet farewell for New Zealand’s legendary captain, Sophie Devine. After leading New Zealand through several heartbreaks in previous World Cup campaigns, Devine finally lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in her last appearance as captain. Although she didn’t have the best outing with the bat, scoring just 6 runs, her leadership and contributions over the years have been invaluable to New Zealand cricket.
Conclusion
Temba Bavuma’s absence from the first Test against Bangladesh due to a triceps injury has undeniably disrupted South Africa’s plans. However, the Proteas have a strong squad that has the depth and skill to compete in Dhaka under Aiden Markram’s leadership. Markram’s experience as a stand-in captain, along with the contributions of key players like Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and debutant Matthew Breetzke, will be crucial as South Africa navigates this challenging series.
