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New Zealand overcame their demons from the past to win the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time in Dubai, beating South Africa by 32 runs.
In 2010, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine were a part of the team that were beaten in the final and they played a perfect match to ensure that this time around they would leave with the trophy.
Amelia Kerr starred with bat and ball as New Zealand scored 158 runs having lost the toss and been put in to bat and with the ball they held their nerve to take wickets at key moments as South Africa only managed 126 for nine in reply.
Australia travelled to Dubai as the number one ranked T20 side in the world and favourites to lift a fourth successive trophy, but were knocked out by South Africa in the semi-finals.
England and India both faltered at the group stage and never reached the knockouts, ensuring that the final will be the first white-ball women’s final without Australia or England being involved.
Six-time winners Australia suffered a shock loss to South Africa, who won by eight wickets, chasing down 135 with 16 balls to spare. New Zealand, meanwhile, defeated the West Indies by nine runs in a tense and close semi-final to set up today’s showpiece.
Follow all the live action in the blog below:
New Zealand win the T20 World Cup
Rosemary Mair: “It’s unbelievable, coming in, all the odds were against us, to win is unbelievable.”
“The batters put on a pretty fantastic total for us, they had a great start in powerplay.”
“We just care so much about each other, we’ve been through a lot of lows and just stuck by each other and kept working hard with each other.”
“It’s amazing for Suzie and Sophie. They’re pretty old, to have them lead this side is awesome, we’ve learnt so much from them.”
New Zealand win the T20 World Cup
New Zealand have won the T20 World Cup. Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates embrace, they were both there in 2010 when they lost in the final.
The Kiwi men’s team has never won the World Cup, this is a huge moment for New Zealand cricket. What a moment for this group of players and women’s cricket in the country.
Wicket! Tryon out for 14! Jafta out for 6! South Africa 121-9 (19) Mlaba 2, Khaka 1, Mair 3-25 (4)
Tryon is caught by Maddy Green in the outfield! South Africa are eight down and any very slim chance of a recovery has gone with Tryon.
Jafta has gone! Mair has her fourth and New Zealand just need one wicket left! The Proteas are 120-9 with 7 balls remaining.
Wicket! Dercksen out for 10! South Africa 117-7 (18) Tryon 14, Jafta 5, Kerr 3-24 (4)
Dercksen is just swinging at everything and an edge evades the wicketkeeper. She swings again and it is taken by Bates!
That was the best catch of the day, and Dercksen is out for just 10. Kerr has another wicket.
A four from the final ball of the over.
South Africa 107-6 (17) Tryon 13, Derckesn 8, Jonas 1-29 (4)
Dercksen top-edges the first delivery of Jonas’s final over, but it just evades Bates in the field.
Tryon goes in search of a boundary and has to settle for a single.
The hundred came up in the previous over, but there’s a great piece of fielding from Green to prevent Dercksen adding another boundary. She seizes up with cramp, but the runs are saved.
South Africa 100-6 (16) Tryon 12, Dercksen 2, Halliday 1-4 (1)
Luus has gone! Halliday has come on to bowl for the first time in the match and she has a breakthrough!
Caught by Suzie Bates and Luus has to go for just eight runs from nine.
A full toss and South Africa can’t take advantge of it.
Just four runs from Halliday’s over, and New Zealand are closing in on victory.
South Africa 95-5 (15) Tryon 11, Luus 7, Tahuhu 0-21 (3)
The run rate is creeping up above 12 an over. They have to hit boundaries now, as Tahuhu comes back on to keep things tight.
10 from the over, but it’s not enough. 63 needed from just 30 deliveries.
South Africa 86-5 (14) Tryon 3, Luus 6, Kerr 2-16 (3)
Kerr is into her third over, she was struggling with cramp or a slight issue earlier, but has kept things tight.
Luus tries to go big and hit over the top but it just brings a single.
Kerr has a huge shout for lbw as Tryon goes right down and is struck on the shoulder.
Devine sends this one upstairs.
South Africa 81-5 (13) Tryon 0, Luus 3, Mair 1-21 (3)
Chloe Tryon walks out to the crease and to get her side back in the game her and De Klerk have a mammoth task ahead of them.
De Klerk has gone! She spoons an outside edge straight to short fine on the edge of the ring!
Mair has her first wicket.
Wicket! Kapp out for 8! South Africa 77-4 (12) De Klerk 6, Carson 1-17 (3)
De Klerk and Kapp have to do a rebuilding job here as the required run rate creeps up above 9.5 an over.
De Klerk has not hit a boundary this tournament, as Kapp tries to push on the scoring rate on her own almost.
Another review for caught behind! This is a long delay while everyone waits for ultra edge. A couple of the Kiwi players are having their legs stretched for cramp.
There’s a mostly flat line as the ball goes past the bat and De Klerk survives.
Kapp has provided a needed and welcome boundary.
Kapp has been caught on the boundary!
