History made in Dubai: New Zealand win their first Women’s T20 World Cup title

T20 World Cup Final: Match Centre and Scorecard

Sophie Devine’s New Zealand are Women’s T20 World Cup Champions, having overcome South Africa to become only the fourth nation to claim the title in the tournament’s history.

Victory is only the second time that New Zealand’s women have won a major ICC Women’s tournament, with their 2024 T20 title joining their victory in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2000 on home soil.

The White Ferns were competing in the third final, but their first since 2010, and put in a superb performance having been asked to bat first by the Proteas in Dubai.

Contributions from Melie Kerr (43), Brooke Halliday (38) and Suzie Bates (32) saw them rack up 158/5 in the first innings.

And three-wicket hauls for Kerr (3/24) and Rosemary Mair (3/25) ensured that South Africa fell well short in their chase, finishing 32 runs behind as the Kiwi players celebrated on the Dubai turf.

New Zealand came into the tournament ranked fourth in the world but named in a hugely competitive Group A that also included top-ranked Australia and third-ranked India.

But Devine’s side put in a masterclass against India first up to get their tournament off to a winning start, and qualified for the semi-finals as runners up behind Australia.

The Kiwis then overcome a dangerous West Indies team in Sharjah in the semi-finals, holding their nerve to seal an eight-run win and reach Sunday’s final in Dubai.

New Zealand’s win sees them join Australia (six-time winners), England and West Indies as the list of champions across the nine editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

They will defend their title in England in 2026, when the tournament will be expanded to 12 competing nations.