White Ferns out to inspire next generation of New Zealand stars

Victorious White Ferns captain Sophie Devine is hoping her side's ground-breaking triumph at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup will help inspire the next generation of New Zealand players to even greater heights.

The White Ferns created history in Dubai on Sunday when they defeated South Africa by 32 runs in the final of the T20 World Cup and in the process claimed their first major trophy in women's cricket since their triumph in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2000.

For Devine, it was a case of being third time lucky with the veteran New Zealand skipper having been part of the side that fell to defeats in the first two editions of the T20 World Cup in 2009 and 2010 against England and Australia respectively.

And Devine hopes the triumph in Dubai will help the White Ferns reach even greater heights in the future as the next generation of younger players are ushered into the national side.

"I think the impact is going to take a bit of time to sink in. We've spoken about it before, the 2000 World Cup and the impact that had and that took years to see the swell of numbers and the interest in cricket grow and fingers crossed we can do that too back home as inspire that next generation of players,” Devine said.

"But I think the great thing about being a Kiwi is we all get in behind each other. It doesn't matter what sport you play. I think the amount of support we've had from fellow athletes, from members of the public, from celebrities, it's been pretty cool to have that support and it does, it just shows you how connected New Zealand is and makes you really proud to be a Kiwi."

One player who was inspired by feats of the past was all-rounder Melie Kerr, who made 43 with the bat and picked up three valuable wickets in reply while battling cramps in a Player of the Match performance in the Women's T20 World Cup decider.

Kerr admitted she took great inspiration from the feats of Devine from those early editions of the T20 World Cup and the title success in Dubai had been a long-time dream for her as she led the White Ferns to a memorable triumph and was named Player of the Tournament.

"I was inspired to be a White Fern watching that 2010 World Cup which Sophie was at and from that moment I was at the nets with my dad pretending I was batting with Sophie and Suzie (Bates) and being in the team so young and playing with my role models who have been so good to me and two of New Zealand's greatest ever cricketers," Kerr revealed.

“I don't necessarily believe you deserve things in sport, but if any two people do, it's Sophie and Suzie. And I just think back to myself as a kid that was batting with Sophie and Suzie in the nets.

"And like when I was at primary school in creative writing, I wrote about winning a World Cup with Sophie and Suzie.

"So, to be here now, having done that, I think that's probably why I'm so emotional out on the field in the moment. It's something that's so special when I think back to my younger self and to be here now and to do it with two of New Zealand's best ever."