Dubai [UAE], October 21, 2024: New Zealand’s cricket legends Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, and Lea Tahuhu, fondly called the “three grandmas” by their team, achieved a long-awaited triumph as the White Ferns clinched their first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title. The all-round performance helped the team secure a memorable 32-run victory over South Africa.
The Final Showdown In a tense final, Bates, Devine, and Tahuhu played crucial roles. After being asked to bat first, New Zealand managed to set a challenging target of 158/5, with Bates giving them a solid start, scoring 32 off 31 balls. Speaking of her teammate, Devine said, “Suzie is now the most capped player in the history of the game on the women’s side, and it is unbelievable to think that she can go out there and play with such aggression and fearlessness.”
Amelia Kerr’s all-round performance shone bright as she top-scored with 43 runs and later dismantled South Africa’s batting line-up with her 3/24 spell, earning her the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Dreams Realized for Bates and Devine The win marked an emotional victory for 37-year-old Suzie Bates and 35-year-old Sophie Devine, who had been part of two previous World Cup final defeats in 2009 and 2010. Devine remarked, “I started to dream last night about what it would feel like to hold the trophy with this team… but I did not want to get too ahead of us.”
Strong Bowling Secures Victory South Africa’s chase started well, with captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits providing a decent foundation. However, the dismissal of Wolvaardt (33 off 27) by Kerr turned the game in New Zealand’s favor. From that point, the Proteas lost wickets regularly, ending their innings at 126/9. Rosemary Mair also played a key role, taking 3/25.
Lea Tahuhu’s disciplined bowling ensured pressure was maintained throughout the match, leading to South Africa’s collapse. Devine praised her saying, “Lea is the sort of person that you want in your team because she is going to compete and scrap for you.”
A Historic Win This victory was not just a win but a culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and spirit. Suzie Bates, the top run-getter in women’s T20Is, added another feather to her illustrious cap, while Devine, with her leadership and crucial performances, showcased why she remains one of the best all-rounders in the game.
Match Summary New Zealand 158/5 (Amelia Kerr 43, Suzie Bates 32, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31) beat South Africa 126/9 (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Tazmin Brits 17; Amelia Kerr 3/24, Rosemary Mair 3/25) by 32 runs.
