New Zealand Claim Historic First Women’s T20 World Cup Title

In a thrilling final, New Zealand’s White Ferns made history by winning their first Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai. This victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the team, who entered the tournament on the back of 10 consecutive losses. It is also their first T20 title after falling short in the finals of 2009 and 2010.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a formidable 158-5, thanks to a pivotal 57-run partnership between Melie Kerr (43 from 38 balls) and Brooke Halliday (38 from 28 balls). The duo helped anchor New Zealand’s innings after South Africa’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs. The Proteas’ attack, however, struggled with discipline, conceding 10 wides and three no-balls, allowing the White Ferns to rack up 48 runs in the final five overs.

South Africa’s response started well, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front, scoring a fluent 33. Despite a strong start, the Proteas collapsed from 51-0 to 126-9 as New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Kerr (3-24) and Rosemary Mair (3-25), applied relentless pressure. Kerr, who became the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, shone with both bat and ball, delivering a complete performance.

For South Africa, it was a bitter disappointment, having lost their second consecutive T20 World Cup final. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t handle the growing pressure as the required run rate soared.

This emotional win was particularly significant for New Zealand veterans Suzie Bates and captain Sophie Devine, who were moved to tears after the long-awaited victory. As a historic first, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded equal prize money to both men’s and women’s tournaments, with New Zealand taking home $2.34 million (£1.75 million) and South Africa receiving $1.7 million (£878,000).

New Zealand’s all-around brilliance on the day ensured that their long wait for a T20 title ended in style.