Amelia Kerr shone with bat and ball as New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs to win the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.
Kerr top-scored with 43 as the White Ferns posted an imposing 158 for five in Dubai, combining with Brooke Halliday (38) to help her side to the second-highest score in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final.
She then took three wickets in reply, including both Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch in a decisive 10th over which turned the game in New Zealand’s favour.
South Africa could not recover and finished comfortably adrift on 126 for nine, ensuring Sophie Devine finished her stint as New Zealand’s T20 skipper with her hands on the trophy.
Scores in brief
New Zealand v South Africa – Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates
New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31, Nadine de Klerk 1/17)
South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Tazmin Brits 17; Amelia Kerr 3/24, Rosemary Mair 3/25)
Result: New Zealand win by 32 runs
