Following her all-round performance, she expressed her admiration for Devine and Bates, stating that she used to write stories about winning the trophy with them when she was at school.

The 24-year-old leg-spinner top-scored with 43 in the New Zealand total of 158-5 and then took 3-24 as South Africa fell short by 32 runs.

Kerr finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 15 and collected both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament Awards.

But 14 years ago, Kerr watched forlornly on television as New Zealand, with Devine and Bates in the side, lost the 2010 final to Australia by just three runs. It was a moment that triggered a love for the game and a desire to put the record right.

“I was inspired to be a White Fern watching that 2010 World Cup which Sophie was at,” said Kerr who made her international debut when she was just 16.

“From that moment I was at the nets with my dad pretending I was batting with Sophie and Suzie.

“And I was on the team so young and playing with my role models, who have been so good to me, two of New Zealand’s greatest ever cricketers.

“I just think back to myself as a kid. When I was at primary school in creative writing, I wrote about winning a World Cup with Sophie and Suzie.

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“I don’t necessarily believe you deserve things in sport, but if any two people do, it’s Sophie and Suzie.”

Devine, 35, and Bates, 37, are two of the elder stateswomen on the team along with 34-year-old Lea Tahuhu.

Each of them made their mark on the final. Bates made 32 and took three catches while fast bowler Tahuhu squeezed the South African middle order.

Devine only made six but her leadership was outstanding, bringing out the best in the younger players in the team, like Amelia Kerr.

“We joke about being grandmas and mums and whatnot but you feel a real sense of pride at seeing them stand up and take opportunities. Melie (Kerr) today was unbelievable,” said the skipper.

“For us to be able to win it, it’s just nice to have that. It’s always something that you want to have when you finish your career.”

Devine’s first action after winning was to embrace her fellow ‘grandma’ Bates who has now played 334 white ball internationals since making her debut back in 2006.

“Me and Suze have been through a lot together,” she said. “We’ve been through a lot of hairstyles together, hers a lot worse than mine.”

“But to be able to share it, to be fielding close together as well and to share that moment, that embrace, that’s 17, 18 years of joy and heartbreak and happiness shared in that moment. It’s just been awesome to share that with her.”

READ: New Zealand beat South Africa to clinch maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title

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South Africa, the runners-up of the 2023 edition, once again failed to win the trophy as they could not chase the 159-run target.

Amelia Kerr put on a stellar performance, earning the Player of the Match award. She showcased her all-round capabilities by scoring 43 runs off 38 balls and taking 3 wickets for 24 runs.

While chasing 159, South Africa got off to a flying start with a 51-run opening stand between skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits.

However, Fran Jonas provided the breakthrough with the wicket of Brits, who scored 17 off 18 to disrupt South Africa’s momentum.

Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 33 off 27 before falling prey to Amelia Kerr, leaving South Africa reeling at 59-2.

New Zealand bowlers did not allow South Africa to make a comeback and restricted them to 126-9 courtesy of timely wickets.

Apart from the opening batters, only Chloe Tryon (14) and Annerie Dercksen (10) managed to reach double figures for South Africa.

For New Zealand, Rosemary Mair also took three wickets along with Kerr, while Jonas, Eden Carson and Brooke Halliday managed one wicket each.

Earlier, South Africa invited New Zealand to bat first in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and earned an early breakthrough in the second over.

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Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Georgia Plimmer (9) before Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr joined hands to construct a cautious partnership of 37 runs.

Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the budding partnership, removing Bates, who was playing at 32 off 31 with the help of three boundaries.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine could not add much to the total, falling victim to Nadine de Klerk after scoring 6.

Brooke Halliday joined settled Amelia Kerr and together they added 57 runs for the fourth wicket from 44 balls to push the team’s total to 127.

Chloe Tryon halted New Zealand’s momentum as she ended Halliday’s entertaining knock of 38 runs from 28 balls, which featured three boundaries.

Meanwhile, Amelia Kerr fell prey to Mlaba in the next over after playing a 43-run knock, which conceded 38 balls and included four boundaries.

Maddy Green then struck an unbeaten 12 off 6 to take the team’s total to 158-5 in their allocated 20 overs.

Nonkululeko Mlaba led South Africa’s bowling with the figures of 2-31, while Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk bagged one wicket each.

PLAYING XIs

New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.

READ: Pakistan pacer names Mohammad Rizwan as his favourite cricketer of all-time

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PLAYING XIs

New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.

READ: Former legend questions England’s attacking approach after Pakistan loss

The post South Africa put New Zealand into bat in Women’s T20 World Cup final appeared first on ASports.tv.

Set to chase a modest 129, the former champions only managed to amass 120/8 in the allotted 20 overs despite Deandra Dottin’s brisk knock.

West Indies had a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost two quick wickets, Qiana Joseph (12) and Shemaine Campbelle (3), inside five overs with just 20 runs on the board.

Following the slump, returning Stafanie Taylor joined skipper Hayley Matthews and together they raised a cautious 21-run partnership until the former was cleaned up by Carson on 13 as West Indies slipped to 41/3 in 8.5 overs.

Coming out to bat at No.5, Dottin took the reigns of West Indies’ run chase with a counterattacking knock.

She smashed three sixes on her way to top score for West Indies with a 22-ball 33.

Dottin had kept West Indies on track, courtesy of her sixth-wicket partnership with Afy Fletcher but her untimely dismissal diminished the 2016 champions’ hopes.

West Indies slipped further to 97/7 when Fran Jonas struck in the next over, dismissing Chedean Nation for a duck.

Fletcher was then supported by Zaid James, who had glimmered a ray of hope by hitting Suzie Bates for a four on the first delivery of the final over, bringing the equation down to 11 off five.

James, however, failed to continue and was cleaned up by Bates on the third delivery without adding further runs and walked back in disgust after playing a fighting 14-run knock from eight balls.

Fletcher got the strike on the penultimate delivery with West Indies needing 10 but managed only one and remained unbeaten 17 on 15.

Carson was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, courtesy of her three wickets, followed by Amelia Kerr with two scalps. Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu and Bates, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

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New Zealand captain Sophie Devine’s decision to bat first backfired as the White Ferns had to settle for a modest total.

New Zealand had a steady start to their innings, courtesy of a cautious 48-run opening stand between Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer.

The duo frustrated the former champions until Karishma Ramharack provided them with a much-needed breakthrough in the ninth over by bowling Bates, who made 26 off 28.

Plimmer then put together a brief partnership with Amelia Kerr, which yielded 17 runs before both perished in successive overs to leave New Zealand reeling at 69/3 in 12.1 overs.

Georgia Plimmer remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with a grafting 33 off 31 balls with the help of three fours and a six.

Skipper Devine was then joined by Brooke Halliday, who gave a minor push to New Zealand’s scoring rate with a brisk cameo. She made 18 off nine deliveries before falling victim to Dottin in the 15th over.

Halliday shared a crucial 27-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Devine, who followed suit in the next over, departing for a run-a-ball 12.

Deandra Dottin then posed a double blow to New Zealand in the next over, dismissing Maddy Green (3) and Rosemary Mair (2) to bring the total down to 104/7 in 16.4 overs.

Wicketkeeper batter Isabelle Gaze then offered some resistance at the backend with a fighting knock. She remained unbeaten with a 14-ball 20.

Dottin was the standout bowler for the West Indies, returning brilliant bowling figures of 4/22, followed by Afy Fletcher with two wickets, while Ramharack and Aaliyah Alleyne shared two wickets between them.

New Zealand will now face South Africa in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.

READ: India fight back after Ravindra’s ton cements New Zealand’s lead

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PLAYING XIs

West Indies: Hayley Matthews (capt), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack.

READ: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi comment on Pakistan’s victory over England

The post New Zealand win toss, elect to bat first against West Indies in second semi-final appeared first on ASports.tv.

Set to chase 135, South Africa comfortably knocked the winning runs when Bosch fittingly hit Megan Schutt for a four on the second delivery of the 18th over.

The Proteas, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as Tazmin Brits fell victim to Annabel Sutherland on the first delivery of the fifth over. She scored a run-a-ball 15.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt was then joined by Bosch in the middle and together they dominated Australia bowlers to put South Africa in touching distance.

The pair shared a match-defining 96-run stand, which lasted with Wolvaardt’s dismissal in the 15th over. The South African captain made 42 off 37 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.

Meanwhile, Anneke Bosch kept going and registered a one-sided third-wicket partnership with Chloe Tryon (1*) to guide South Africa to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final.

Bosch top-scored for South Africa with an unbeaten 74 off just 48 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.

For Australia, Annabel Sutherland bagged two wickets, while the rest went wicketless.

More to follow…

Put into bat first, the defending champions had to settle for a modest total despite an anchoring knock from wicketkeeper batter Beth Mooney.

Australia had a shaky start to their innings as they lost Grace Harris (3) and Georgia Wareham (5) with just 18 runs on the board in three overs.

Following the early hiccup, stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath joined Mooney in the middle and launched a recovery.

The duo batted sensibly against a disciplined South African bowling attack and knitted an important 50-run partnership for the third wicket.

Nonkululeko Mlaba then provided a much-needed breakthrough to South Africa in the 13th over when she got rid of McGrath with a slower delivery.

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McGrath struck three boundaries on her way to a 33-ball 27.

Mooney then joined forces with veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry and propelled Australia close to the 100-run barrier before a direct hit from Marizanne Kapp drew curtains on her brilliant knock.

She remained the top-scorer for Australia with a 42-ball 44, laced up with two fours.

Perry then partnered with Phoebe Phoebe Litchfield and bolstered Australia’s total with a 35-run partnership, which culminated with the former’s dismissal on the final delivery of the innings.

Ellyse Perr scored a quick 31 off 23 balls, while Litchfield remained unbeaten on 16 off nine deliveries.

Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, picking up two wickets, while Marizanne Kapp.

South Africa will now face either West Indies or New Zealand in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, scheduled to take place on Sunday.

READ: Conway strengthens New Zealand grip after India booked on 46

The post South Africa stun Australia to qualify for Women’s T20 World Cup final appeared first on ASports.tv.

PLAYING XIs

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.

Australia: Grace Harris, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

READ: ECB chief fears financial risks if India opt out of Champions Trophy

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West Indies’ eight-wicket victory knocked England out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the former champions slipped down to third in Group B standings.

West Indies got off to a flamboyant start to the pursuit as skipper Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph recorded a brisk 102-run partnership.

Joseph, who was the core aggressor of the opening stand, fell briefly after amassing her half-century when she was deceived by a Sciver-Brunt’s slower delivery in the 13th over.

She remained the top-scorer for West Indies with a 38-ball 52, which included six fours and two sixes.

Matthews followed suit in the next over when she miscued a pull shot off Sarah Glenn. She smashed seven fours and a six on her way to a 38-ball 50.

The back-to-back dismissals glimmered a ray of hope for England bowlers, who did well to halt the flow of runs for West Indies.

But Deandra Dottin turned the tide in West Indies’ favour when she smashed Charlie Dean for 16 runs in a match-defining 16th over.

England got another thin chance when they struck twice in the span of three deliveries including the prized scalp of Deandra Dottin, 27 off 19 balls, with West Indies needing six off 14 deliveries.

But Aaliyah Alleyne, unfazed by the pressure mounted by the England bowlers, steered West Indies over the line with an unbeaten six off four deliveries.

For England, Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Glenn made one scalp each.

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Put into bat first, England registered a formidable total on the board, courtesy of an unbeaten half-century by Nat Sciver-Brunt.

The 2009 champions had a shaky start to their innings as they lost three wickets inside seven overs with just 34 runs on the board.

Following the slump, skipper Heather Knight joined Sciver-Brunt in the middle and anchored the innings with a crucial 46-run partnership, which culminated with the former getting retired hurt after scoring a 13-ball 21.

Knight’s injury jolted England as they began to lose wickets at an alarming rate.

But, Sciver-Brunt stood her ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly. She carried her bat all the way through with an unbeaten 57 off 50 deliveries with the help of five boundaries.

Afy Fletcher was the standout bowler for England, picking up three wickets, followed by Hayley Matthews with two, while Deandra Dottin made one scalp.

READ: Babar Azam congratulates Kamran Ghulam on dream Test debut

The post West Indies, South Africa book semi-final spots as England crashed out appeared first on ASports.tv.

PLAYING XIs

England: Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell.

West Indies: Hayley Matthews (capt), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

READ: Mohammad Haris says players prohibited to discuss India

The post West Indies put England into bat in crucial Group B clash appeared first on ASports.tv.

While defending 151, Australia restricted India to 142-9 with Annabel Sutherland bowling a brilliant last over.

Sutherland managed to successfully defend 13 runs in her last over. She conceded four runs, and also took two wickets, in addition to two run-outs.

Shafali Verma started the chase for India with a quick 20 off 13, however, India soon slipped to 47-3 inside seven overs.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined hands with Deepti Sharma and constructed a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket to launch the recovery. Sophie Molineux removed Sharma, who was playing at 29 off 25, to break the partnership.

Kaur then waged a lone battle as she could not get enough support from the other end. None of the lower-order batters posed any threat to the Australian bowling attack.

The Indian captain completed her half-century from 44 balls in the penultimate over. She took a single on the first ball of the last over.

With 13 required off 5, Sutherland castled Pooja Vastrakar (9) followed by a mix-up which resulted in Arundhati Reddy’s dismissal.

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Kaur faced the fourth delivery and took a single, leaving 12 needed off the last two balls. However, Sutherland held on to her nerves and steered Australia to a thrilling victory.

The Indian skipper remained unbeaten at 54 off 47, which featured six boundaries.

Sutherland and Molineux took two wickets each for Australia, while Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner managed one each.

Australia, after opting to bat, had an unwanted start as they slipped to 17-2 inside three overs with Renuka Singh taking two wickets on two balls.

Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath joined Grace Harris and together they stitched a 62-run partnership from 54 balls to push the team’s total to 79 before Radha Yadav provided a breakthrough.

McGrath got stumped off Yadav after scoring a 26-ball 32 with the help of four boundaries. Harris top-scored with a cautious 40 off 41 before she fell prey to Deepti Sharma with 92 runs on the board.

Ellyse Perry then played a quick knock of 32 runs from 23 balls, which included two boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield scored an unbeaten 15 off 9 to help Australia score 151-8 in their allocated 20 overs.

The defending champions remained unbeaten in the group stages of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with eight points after four matches, meanwhile, India secured two victories from four games.

READ: Fakhar Zaman defends Babar Azam after England Tests snub

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