Amelia Kerr produced one of the great all-round displays in a ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final as New Zealand pummelled the Proteas Women by 32 runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
It was another bridge too far for the South Africans after they also fell at the final hurdle at the previous T20 World Cup final on home soil against Australia in February 2023.
Having produced a fine display in the semi-final against world champions Australia, the Proteas seemed to crack under the bright spotlight on the big stage, as they struggled at key moments with bat, ball and in the field.
They probably produced their worst display in the field in the tournament, conceding 10 wides and three no-balls. Their ground fielding was also a bit helter-skelter, as the bowlers and wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta took a few blows on their bodies because of erratic throws from the boundary.
Kerr top-scored in the New Zealand innings with 43 runs of 38 balls in their total of 159, which looked like it was about 20 runs more than par on a wicket that was slow and took some turn.
The New Zealanders came out with great intent, with openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer taking the game to Proteas Women’s ace all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.
Bates and Kerr shared a 37-run partnership, before Kerr and Brooke Halliday came together and blitzed a 57-run partnership from just 44 balls.
Kapp went wicketless for only the second time in the tournament. Chloe Tryon was probably SA’s best bowler with 1/22 from her four overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/31), took some tap towards the end of the innings, while Ayabonga Khaka (1/44) also travelled as the Proteas Women conceded 61 in the last five overs.
The big concern for the Proteas was the fact that their middle-order had not spent a lot of time out in the middle during the tournament.
It again looked like they wouldn’t be needed as captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits shared a half-century stand. However, Brits (17) lost her wicket after the powerplay and it all seemed to go pear-shaped.
Anneke Bosch, the star performer against Australia, then struggled to get the ball off the square against the New Zealand attack. With the required run-rate starting to climb, she put pressure on Wolvaardt at the other end to come up with the big shot.
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New Zealand win their maiden Women's #T20WorldCup title 🏆#WhateverItTakes #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/DOfyWZgLUf
But Wolvaardt (33 off 27 balls) was caught at cover off Kerr’s bowling, which then triggered a collapse that knocked the wind out of the South African chase.
Bosch, Kapp and Nadine de Klerk all went for single figures, while Tryon and Sune Luus and Annerie Dercksen also struggled to clear the fence as the Proteas ended on 125/9.
New Zealand’s Kerr ended with figures of 3/24, while opening bowler Rosemary Mair took 3/25.
While the Proteas played some good cricket at this World Cup, especially in the semi-final against Australia, they will be disappointed with their display in the final, especially after winning the toss.
@JohnGoliath82