New Zealand had lost 10 T20 Internationals (T20I) in a row going into the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 and now find themselves in the final of the tournament. Their run of losses ended with a comprehensive 58-run over India in Dubai, but they went on to win three of their next four matches to make it to yet another World Cup final, where they will be up against South Africa. Most recently, they held their nerve to beat the 2016 champions West Indies in the second semi-final by eight runs.
With West Indies' exit at the hands of the White Ferns on October 18 (Friday), we are guaranteed to have a new Women's T20 World Cup winner. The New Zealand women's rugby team have won six of the nine World Cups so far, and all-rounder Amelia Kerr says the team wants to take a cue from them and inspire the next generation.
"Black Ferns, our women's rugby team back home, made the World Cup final. And I think after that, so many young girls and boys want to start playing rugby. So, to be a team that's now playing in the final, having the chance to win a World Cup, I think, is going to inspire so many kids back home," Kerr said at the post-match press conference.
"And I guess in sport and in life people like seeing and hearing success stories. And if we can, we have the opportunity to inspire the nation, I guess, with the final coming up. I'm just so proud of how this group has carried themselves. Yes, we want to do great things on the field, but more importantly, what we do off the field is outstanding, and the people we are that yes, if we win, we might win or lose cricket games, but all the girls in the group are fantastic role models and now we have the chance to add a trophy to it."
With 15 to win off the final over, Sophie Devine handed the ball to Suzie Bates, which was a bit of a surprise as Lea Tahuhu had an over up her sleeve. However, Bates convinced her skipper to toss the ball to her, and she delivered, conceding just six runs while also picking up a wicket after being whacked to the fence off the first ball.
"It was actually Brooke [Halliday]. She had her hat off, and I think Brooke was going to bowl, and I looked at Suzie and said, Suzie, I think you should bowl and she said to Sophie, bowl me, I want to bowl it," Kerr, who finished with 2/14, said.
"And I think that's huge from, I guess, your leader, your most capped player, to step up again in that moment. She's done it before for us, she's a bit of a last over specialist and she likes to call herself Michael Jordan and I think that was a Michael Jordan moment."
West Indies' senior-most player, Deandra Dottin, had a couple of lucky escapes in the innings. First, she was dropped by Rosemary Mair, and then, in the next over, Eden Carson gave Dottin a reprieve. That could have proved costly, especially when New Zealand had just 128 on the board. Kerr believes that those moments did not cost her side a place in the final.
"During this World Cup, there have been a lot of drop catches. And we know how important fielding is. And I think as a group, we are an outstanding fielding team. And we've probably lifted our standards so much and I think being one of the best fielding groups at this World Cup," Kerr said.
"Today we let a few down against a world-class player, and fortunately we managed to get her again, but I also think that just with this group the fact that we get along so well and I guess who we are as people and we get around each other that obviously after a dropped catch you can't change it it's about moving forward and you've got to stay up because if you get too down in those moments, that's when things can change and they can get on top of you.
"So, I think the fact that we got around each other, kept our heads high and knew that even though she was going, one wicket changes the game and gets us back in it. So obviously, we'll want to improve our fielding. But yeah, I think we've got great fielders, and we just made a couple of mistakes tonight."
New Zealand will have another shot at winning the Women's T20 World Cup when they come up against South Africa in the final on October 20 (Sunday) in Dubai.
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