Women's T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand set 159 runs target for South Africa

New Zealand Women set a 159-run target for South Africa Women at the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

After South Africa Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss, she decided to field first. New Zealand Women scored 158/5 in 20 overs. 

New Zealand scored 43/1 at powerplay 

In-form opener Georgia Plimmer was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka in the second over. However, the other opener Suzie Bates had a good partnership with Amelia Kerr. At the end of the powerplay, New Zealand Women scored 43/1. 

Bates and Kerr had a 37-run partnership for the second wicket. After Nonkululeko Mlaba bowled Bates for 32 runs off 31 balls (three fours), captain Sophie Devine (6) lost her wicket cheaply to Nadine de Klerk. 

Amelia Kerr set a strong 50+ partnership with Halliday

Kerr and Brooke Halliday then set a game-changing partnership for the fourth wicket. In that partnership, they added 57 runs in seven overs. 

After Chloe Tryon dismissed Halliday for 38 off 28 balls (three fours), Kerr scored 43 off 38 balls with four fours before losing her wicket against Mlaba. 

White Ferns batted strongly in the slog overs

In the end, Maddy Green played a useful cameo of 12 not out in six balls with one over-boundary to make the score close to 160 runs. She was the only six hitter in that innings. 

In the last four overs, the White Ferns added 41 runs for the loss of two wickets. In that slog-overs period, the batting side hit two fours and one six. 

Mlaba took two wickets

Among the South Africa Women bowlers, Nonkululeko Mlaba got two wickets, as she finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-31-2. Khaka (1/44), Tryon (1/22), and De Klerk (1/17) picked up one wicket each.