South Africa vs New Zealand highlights, Women's T20 World Cup Final: New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs in final to win maiden title

An outstanding all-round performance by Amelia Kerr led New Zealand to their first ever Women's T20 World Cup title as they beat South Africa by a commanding 32 runs in Sunday's final in Dubai.

Player of the Match Kerr top-scored with 43 as New Zealand posted an imposing 158-5 in their 20 overs before taking 3-24, and crucially picking up the key wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, to restrict South Africa to 126-9 in their 20 overs.

It marked a sweet finish to skipper Sophie Devine's career.

The victory came 14 years after the White Ferns lost to Australia by just three runs in the 2010 final. They also lost to England in the 2009 championship match.

For South Africa it made for a double disappointment having lost last year's final to Australia in Cape Town.

An outstanding all-round performance by Amelia Kerr led New Zealand to their first ever Women's T20 World Cup title as they beat South Africa by a commanding 32 runs in Sunday's final in Dubai.

Player of the Match Kerr top-scored with 43 as New Zealand posted an imposing 158-5 in their 20 overs before taking 3-24, and crucially picking up the key wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, to restrict South Africa to 126-9 in their 20 overs.

It marked a sweet finish to skipper Sophie Devine's career.

The victory came 14 years after the White Ferns lost to Australia by just three runs in the 2010 final. They also lost to England in the 2009 championship match.

For South Africa it made for a double disappointment having lost last year's final to Australia in Cape Town.

"I'm a little bit speechless and I'm just so stoked to get the win, considering what this team's been through and yeah, it's what dreams are made of."

Amelia Kerr

Absolutely surreal. so so proud of this team. Puts all the hard work into realisation. Unbelievably proud. This team is special

Lea Tahuhu

"It has not sunk in yet. Incredible moment. [on the DRS call] Just heard it pretty clear, was my judgement, it was a good one. We got so much belief in our team, coming into the tournament not on the best streak. We believed. This is for them [Devine, Bates]."

Izzy Gaze

"Pretty unreal. Coming into the tournament, for the team to bounce back, that's unbelievable. The batters put on a fantastic total. They got off a good start in powerplay. We just care so much about each other, we have been through lows in the last 18 months but stuck together and got through. [on Devine, Bates and Tahuhu] They are pretty old, (laughs) we learn so much from them."

Rosemary Mair

The night sky over Dubai erupts in a dazzling display of fireworks, celebrating a momentous occasion for New Zealand cricket.

The White Ferns, having previously fallen short in the 2009 and 2010 finals, have at last realized their long-held ambition and secured the coveted T20 World Cup title.

New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs in the final to win maiden Women's T20 World Cup title

BOWLED! Rosemary Mair castles Sinalo Jafta for 6 runs. New Zealand are just one wicket away from winning their maiden T20 World Cup trophy.

WICKET! Rosemary Mair takes her second wicket. Another one bites the dust. Full on middle and leg. Tryon hammers it down the ground but Green takes an easy catch.

South Africa Women need 39 runs in 9 balls

WICKET! Suzie Bates secures her third catch of the match, while Amelia Kerr claims her third wicket. The New Zealand Women's cricket team is in a commanding position and appears to be heading towards a victory.

WICKET! Brooke Halliday dismisses Sune Luus for 8 runs. South Africa are 6 down now. Luus tries to smash but the ball hits the toe end of the bat. Suzie Bates takes an easy catch at short extra cover. New Zealand are celebrating. They are looking favourites from here.

South Africa need 62 runs in 29 balls vs New Zealand

FOUR! The South African team, known as the Proteas, celebrated a much-needed boundary. The bowler delivered a full-length delivery with good pace, targeting the stumps. Chloe Tryon, the batter, timed her shot perfectly and executed a lofted drive over the bowler's head, resulting in a fantastic four runs.

South Africa need 64 runs in 31 balls

WICKET! Rosemary Mair strikes in her first delivery of the over. Nadine de Klerk falls for 6 runs.

The New Zealand Women's cricket team is exuding confidence, believing that victory is within their grasp. In a pivotal moment, Rosemary Mair delivers a strategically paced delivery, utilizing her skills to execute a traditional off-cutter that pitches outside the off-stump. De Klerk, the batsman, attempts to capitalize on the opportunity with a forceful swing, but the outcome is less than ideal. The bat makes contact with the ball, resulting in a substantial outside edge that propels the ball directly towards Kerr, positioned at short third. Kerr, alert and ready, secures the catch with ease, further solidifying New Zealand's advantageous position in the match.

South Africa Women need 80 runs in 46 balls

WICKET! Eden Carson dismisses Marizanne Kapp for 8 runs. Big big wicket for New Zealand at the moment. Kapp has been dismissed, leaving her team in a precarious position with half of their lineup back in the pavilion. The wicket fell when Eden Carson delivered a full-length delivery outside the off stump. Kapp attempted to play an aggressive sweep shot, getting down on one knee and making good contact with the ball.

However, she failed to generate sufficient power behind the shot, resulting in a catch for Plimmer at deep mid-wicket, who made a commendable grab to her right.

South Africa need 82 runs in 48 balls vs New Zealand

WICKET! Melie Kerr and the New Zealand Women's team have struck a significant blow to South Africa's chances in the semifinal. Anneke Bosch, who had been instrumental with the bat for her team, has been dismissed.

Kerr, employing a clever strategy, tossed the ball up and pitched it outside the off stump. Bosch, attempting to access the leg side, walked across to the off side and got down on one knee. However, she failed to make contact with the ball as she swiped across the line.

Izzy Gaze, the wicketkeeper, and Kerr appealed for the wicket, but the umpire remained unmoved. Convinced of the dismissal, Gaze and Kerr persuaded their captain, Sophie Devine, to opt for a review. The UltraEdge technology revealed a faint spike when the ball passed the bat, confirming Bosch's departure and dealing a significant setback to South Africa's hopes in the crucial match.

South Africa Women need 95 runs in 60 balls

WICKET! Laura Wolvaardt, unable to withstand the mounting pressure from the opposition, attempted to break free from the constraints but unfortunately fell short. Kerr, despite her physical limitations, delivered a full-length delivery around the off-stump, enticing Wolvaardt to attempt an inside-out shot over the cover region.

However, Wolvaardt's execution was flawed, as she failed to generate sufficient elevation on the shot, resulting in a flat and direct hit to the strategically placed fielder at extra cover. Suzie Bates, positioned within the ring, made no mistake in securing the catch near her chest, providing New Zealand with a crucial breakthrough.

WICKET! Fran Jonas strikes, Tazmin Brits falls for 17 runs. Staying around the wicket, Jonas cleverly reduces her pace and maintains a persistent length targeting the middle stump. Tazmin Brits, the batter, attempts to seize the initiative by charging down the pitch, aiming for an aggressive shot. However, Brits misjudges the delivery and fails to reach the pitch of the ball.

South Africa need 108 runs in 79 balls

50 comes up for South Africa in just seventh over. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits have given South Africa a flying start. This is the kind of start SA needed.

FOUR! Laura Wolvaardt smashes Rosemary Mair straight down the ground for a boundary. Loved the sound of the bat. Superb shot from her.

South Africa need 117 runs in 87 balls

FOUR ! FOUR! Back to back boundaries for Laura Wolvaardt. The SA skipper is shifting gears now. Wolvaardt hits Lea Tahuhu for two consecutive boundaries. 10 runs off Lea Tahuhu's over.

South Africa need 123 runs in 92 balls

FOUR! Second boundary for Wolvaardt. The SA captain can't remain calm. She knows how to keep the run rate in place. She stays inside the crease, plays this through extra cover. What a timing.

South Africa 24/0, need 135 runs vs New Zealand

FOUR! First boundary for South Africa. Laura Wolvaardt smashes Eden Carson towards leg side. Superb stuff from her.

Anytime you go out there with Amelia, you know she's going to be calm and composed. Good to go out there with her. Really good crowd out there, and fireworks.. gets the heart going as well. Wasn't the easiest out there at times. It's hot and the bowling - moving on through the innings - is harder to face. Gets slower. Kind of my role I think. Trying to go out there and be proactive. Just trying to support Amelia out there who was struggling a little bit when I went out there. It's lower and slower, spin bowling is going to be key for us. Also changes of pace with seam bowling. Once we get through the powerplay and we get to keep four out, that's when we will see the perks of our total being 158.

Brooke Halliday

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits are in the middle. Rosemary Mair will open the attack for New Zealand. South Africa need 159 to win the title. Here we go ... !!!

New Zealand Women posted a competitive 158/5 in their 20 overs against South Africa. Suzie Bates anchored the innings with a steady 32 off 31 balls, striking three boundaries and maintaining a strike rate of 103.23. Georgia Plimmer showed early intent with her 9-ball 7, but she was caught by Sune Luus off Ayabonga Khaka’s smart bowling in the second over.

Amelia Kerr added a crucial 43 off 38, displaying her power-hitting abilities before being dismissed by Nonkululeko Mlaba. Skipper Sophie Devine couldn’t make an impact, scoring just 6 before falling LBW to Nadine de Klerk. Brooke Halliday’s explosive 38 off 28 balls, including three boundaries, kept New Zealand’s momentum going, while Maddy Green chipped in with an unbeaten 12 off 6 to finish the innings strong.

South Africa's bowlers had their moments of brilliance, with Mlaba standing out, taking 2 wickets for 31 runs. Khaka and Tryon each chipped in with a wicket, while Kapp and de Klerk kept the run rate in check during key phases. With a target of 159, South Africa will need a solid batting performance to chase down the total and take control of the match.

New Zealand Women conclude their innings with an impressive total!

The White Ferns will be delighted with this score, particularly considering the occasion of the final. Despite encountering difficulties during the middle overs, they successfully recovered the lost momentum. In the final 6 overs, New Zealand Women amassed an impressive 73 runs, propelling their total to a formidable 158.

The innings began with New Zealand Women being asked to bat first. Georgia Plimmer wasted no time in setting the tone, striking a pair of boundaries in the opening over. While she was unable to capitalize on her strong start, Suzie Bates ensured that the scoring rate remained healthy throughout the Powerplay.

Amelia Kerr (43), Brooke Halliday (38) guide New Zealand to 158/5 against South Africa

SIX! Maddy Green whacks Ayabonga Khaka between mid-wicket and long-on for mammoth. What a shot. These are the valuable runs for New Zealand.

150 comes up for New Zealand. Maddy Green plays Ayabonga Khaka towards deep mid wicket. She takes a single and runs for another one. Brilliant running between the wickets.

WICKET! Nonkululeko Mlaba ends Amelia Kerr's stay at 43. A brilliant innings comes to an end. Nonkululeko Mlaba has struck a crucial blow for South Africa, dismissing Melie Kerr at a critical juncture in the match. The bowler maintained a disciplined line, targeting the stumps and pitching the ball on a good length in the off and middle stump region. Kerr, finding herself short on room, attempted to execute a pull shot towards the leg side from the back foot.

Amelia Kerr key as New Zealand eye fighting total vs South Africa. Two overs to go in the innings. New Zealand eyeing a fighting total vs the Proteas Women.

WICKET! Chloe Tryon has delivered the much-needed breakthrough for the Proteas, leaving New Zealand Women four wickets down with the dismissal of Brooke Halliday.

Tryon, maintaining her position around the stumps, bowled a flatter delivery on a good length, targeting the stumps. The ball skidded off the surface, reaching the batter quickly.

Brooke Halliday and Amelia Kerr are batting well and dealing in boundaries at the moment. 40-run stand between the two batters so far. 13 runs off Nadine de Klerk's over.

NZ 110/3 in 15 overs vs SA

Amelia Kerr plays De Klerk towards sweeper cover for a single. That's 100 up for New Zealand.

FOUR! Brooke Halliday hits another one. Consecutive fours. Superb placement from her. Poor fielding effort from de Klerk at long-on.

NZ 97-3 in 14 overs vs SA

FOUR! Brooke Halliday seems ready to got for a biggie. She picks the length and smashes Sune Luus for a boundary.

REVIEW and OUT! Nadine De Klerk's solitary appeal for an LBW decision was met with skepticism from her teammates. However, Laura Wolvaardt, after a brief discussion with Nadine, opted to review the decision with just a second remaining on the timer. The delivery, pitched on a challenging length and targeting the middle stump, caught Sophie Devine off guard as she attempted to pull the ball away.

Devine, rushed in her shot, missed the ball entirely, which struck her on the back leg. The UltraEdge technology confirmed no contact with the bat, while Ball Tracking revealed three red lights, indicating that the ball would have hit the leg stump. Against all odds, South Africa managed to secure a crucial wicket in the first over after the break, dismissing the formidable Devine.

NZ 70/3 in 10.3 overs vs SA

The final has begun cautiously, with both teams satisfied with their current positions. New Zealand, dealing with the absence of Suzie Bates, finds themselves in a transitional phase. As Sophie Devine settles in and Melie Kerr adjusts to the pitch conditions, South Africa aims to maintain pressure on their opponents.

The surface has presented challenges, with the ball occasionally sticking upon landing. Consequently, New Zealand must carefully evaluate their target score, considering the peculiarities of the pitch. Setting an overly ambitious goal could prove detrimental to their chances of success in this crucial match.

This is the highest powerplay (43/1) score against South Africa this tournament, surpassing Australia's 35/2 in the semifinal.

WICKET! Nonkululeko Mlaba gets the big wicket. She castles Suzie Bates for 32 runs. A flat and fast delivery. Bates gets inside the line and looks to paddle it away. She fails to connect the shot and the ball does the rest. Nonkululeko Mlaba exults in celebration. She knows she has got the big big success.

NZ 57/2 in 7.5 overs vs SA

New Zealand started strong in the powerplay, reaching 50/1 after 7 overs, but South Africa's smart bowling kept them in check. Youngster Georgia Plimmer came out with intent, hitting a few early boundaries, but Ayabonga Khaka outfoxed her, leading to a catch at long-on.

Amelia Kerr responded aggressively, attacking from the first ball, though Marizanne Kapp tightened the grip with a controlled over, including bowling Kerr off a free-hit.

Suzie Bates regained momentum with a 10-run over but Chloe Tryon slowed things with a 2-run over. Nonkululeko Mlaba found turn, though Bates continued to play with positive intent.

Most appearances in Women’s T20 World Cup

47 - Ellyse Perry

42 - Suzie Bates

42 - Alyssa Healy

39 - Harmanpreet Kaur

36 - Sophie Devine

FOUR! Suzie Bates is so strong at the leg side. Mlaba to Bates. The New Zealand batter shuffles across and smashes the ball towards deep square leg fence. That's the end of the Powerplay. 7 runs off Mlaba's over.

NZ 43/1 in 6 overs vs SA

New Zealand had lost just one wicket in the powerplay in this tournament heading into the final - against Australia - which happens to be their only defeat so far.

Georgia Plimmer's jersey number, 58, has an intriguing story behind it. When she first played for the White Ferns, Georgia had a specific preference: she wanted a number that included an "8" to commemorate her birthday, which falls on February 8th.

However, due to the limited availability of jerseys at the time of her debut on August 6, 2022, the only option that met her criteria was the number 58.

FOUR! A short of length delivery outside off from Ayabonga Khaka. Bates shuffles across and pulls this hard towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Superb shot from her.

NZ 34/1 in 4 overs vs SA

Most appearances in Women’s international cricket

334* - Suzie Bates

333 - Mithali Raj

322 - Ellyse Perry

316 - Harmanpreet Kaur

309 - Charlotte Edwards