New Zealand wins the Womens T20 World Cup cricket for the first time with a 32-run win over South Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — New Zealand won the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time, beating South Africa by 32 runs on Sunday after a standout performance from Amelia Kerr with bat and ball.

South Africa's chase was held at 126-9 in 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in reply to New Zealand's 158-5 in the final of the 18-day tournament.

The White Ferns added their one-day title at the 2000 Cricket World Cup, becoming the first New Zealand team to win a T20 World Cup, while men's team the Black Caps had yet to achieve the feat.

South Africa also attempted to become T20 champions for the first time. It was the second successive heartbreak for South Africa after losing the 2023 final on home soil to six-time champions Australia.

After South African captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss on Sunday and elected to bowl, Kerr top-scored for New Zealand with a 38-ball 43. Brooke Halliday hit 38 runs in 28 deliveries and opener Suzie Bates scored 32 in 31. Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2 -31 in four overs for South Africa.

South Africa made a strong start to the chase, reaching 51-1 in 6.5 overs, but never really threatened after that, reaching 64-3 midway through the innings.

Wolvaardt top scored for South Africa with a 27-ball 33.

Kerr took 3-24 in her four overs, including Wolvaardt's wicket.

Kerr was named player of the match and also player of the tournament, finishing with a record 15 wickets in six matches.

I'm a little speechless and so excited to get the win considering what this team has been through. It's what dreams are made of,” said the all-rounder. “The wicket was pretty good and I thought 140-plus would get us into the game. It was an excellent contribution from everyone to get the job done.

Both teams played an unchanged side since their semi-final victories South Africa stunned defending champion Australia in the first semi-final by eight wickets on Thursday, while New Zealand defeated West Indies in the second semi-final with eight runs on Friday.

New Zealand had previously finished second, losing to England in 2009 and Australia in 2010.

The White Ferns were on a ten-match losing streak ahead of this World Cup, but showed a brilliant change of form to reach the final for the first time in fourteen years, with just one defeat in the league stage during the tournament.

New Zealand put in a powerful batting performance. Despite losing Georgia Plimmer by nine runs, Bates and Kerr played attacking cricket to defy the Proteas bowling. New Zealand scored 43-1 in the power play.

Bates hit three fours and Kerr hit four boundaries as she put on 37 off 35 balls for the second wicket.

Mlaba provided the breakthrough, bowling Bates in the eighth over with the score just past 50. Nadine de Klerk set New Zealand further back by trapping skipper Sophie Devine lbw for six.

However, Kerr kept the momentum going with her highest individual score of the tournament when 100 came in the 15th over.

Halliday then stepped on the accelerator and hit three fours, while Maddy Green (12 not out in six balls) also hit her team's only six as New Zealand finished with a par-plus score.

In reply, Wolvaardt started well, hitting five fours and putting on 51 off 41 balls with Tazmin Britten for the first wicket.

South Africa's chase looked to be on track when Fran Jonas (1-28) got the first breakthrough as the British had long gone ahead for 17.

The runs dried up immediately as South Africa scored eight off the next 14 balls and the pressure was palpable. Wolvaardt tried to hit a boundary from Kerr's first ball and was instead caught mid-on, sparking huge celebrations in the Kiwi camp.

South Africa then lost regular wickets. Kerr also sent back the great Anneke Bosch for nine points.

Marizanne Kapp was bowled out for eight, as New Zealand missed nothing in the field. The middle order didn't materialize at all for South Africa, reduced to 97-6 in 15.1 overs.

Rosemary Mair took 3-25 in her four overs, while Eden Carson wrapped up proceedings with the final over to crown the tournament's new champions.

I let myself dream last night about what it would be like to hold the trophy in my hands. It is difficult to put into words what it means for this group of players, myself included, and also for New Zealand cricket,” Devine said. “The great thing about this group is that we know what we have been trying to achieve for the past 18 months.

The results didn't go our way, but we knew we were building in the right direction.

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