New Zealand won their first T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 32 points, thanks to the great performance of all-rounder Mary Carr, who was named the tournament’s best player.
Kerr, who top-scored with 43 off 38 balls, could barely walk due to cramps brought on by the Dubai heat, but still managed to catch the wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch at either end of the 10th over. and turned the game on its head. on that head.
It was New Zealand’s first global trophy since 2000 and came after a miserable run of form, including a 5-0 T20 defeat against England in July, but they were underdogs in Dubai on Sunday. Everything somehow worked out for one Kiwi.
Self-proclaimed Kiwi “grandmas” Susie Bates, 37, Sophie Devine, 35, and Leah Tahufu, 34, have finally been vindicated after years of struggling. They had a whiff of World Cup success (New Zealand last appeared in a World Cup final in 2010) and this could very well have been their last chance at World Cup glory.
“This means everything to us,” Bates said. “When you play a team sport, you want to be world champions. We’ve been fighting our way back to the top. We’re looking forward to winning this World Cup. There were some dark times when we weren’t able to control the situation and doubted ourselves as leaders, but Sophie led this team and did a great job.”
“Last night I started dreaming a little bit about what it would be like to lift the trophy in front of that team,” Devine said. It’s hard to explain in words what it meant to Cricket. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a drink.”
Carr was a star, going 3-for-24 at bat, but it was a team effort. Brooke Halliday joined her in a 57-run fourth-wicket stand built on blood, tears and mostly sweat, with some intense running between the wicks. .
And after South Africa raced to 58 for one in eight overs for their target of 159 runs, Tahhu ratcheted up the pressure by bowling five consecutive dot balls. Frustrated, Wolvaardt attempted to strike out, but was caught in the ring.
Five balls later, Bosch, who had dominated in Thursday’s semi-final against Australia, feather-edged Izzy Gaze behind the stumps and Devine appealed to DRS, overturning the initial not-out ruling.
Bates continued to prove a safe pair at cover, saving three catches, but young spinners Fran Jonas and Eden Carson also had wickets, and seamer Rosemary Carson also had wickets as South Africa’s run chase waned. Mair also had three wickets. Outside.
“When you come to the World Cup, everyone is starting from scratch and it’s everyone’s game,” Devine said. “The important thing about this group is that it’s not necessarily one person who takes the wicket or the catch. It’s about teamwork and working hard for the guys in the middle.”
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New Zealand, sent to bat by South Africa, started out at full strength, reaching 50 for one in the first seven overs before South Africa caught up.
Bates, who scored 32 runs and celebrated becoming the most-capped player in women’s international competition (334 appearances), enjoyed an easy pick from the leg side, but Nonkululeko Mlaba limped off the stumps for a sweep. bowled. Devine then added just six points, but South Africa’s proper DRS review showed that Nadine de Klerk batted at her.
But the partnership between Kerr and Halliday helped New Zealand rebuild. Despite South Africa’s indiscipline, they recorded 10 wides and three no-balls. Although he managed to see off Halliday and Kerr with consecutive overs, he was penalized for his slow over rate and only three fielders were allowed out in 20 overs.
That allowed Maddie Green to get the penultimate ball of the inning over the boundary rope for the first six innings. Momentum firmly returned to New Zealand as they scored 16 points from the over.
