SA W VS NZ W FINAL

Well then, the White Ferns pose for the photographs. And with this, it brings us to the conclusion of an immersive and highly successful Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The land of Emirates proved to be a spectacular host for the tournament which was initially scheduled to be played in Bangladesh. New Zealand have added the coveted trophy to its cabinet and has ended the wait of 15 long years. This momentous day marks a new chapter in New Zealand's cricketing history. By clinching the World Cup title, they've now entered an elite group, joining Australia, West Indies, and England as the only nations to have achieved this prestigious feat in women's T20 cricket. As we bring the curtain down on this thrilling tournament, we reflect on its resounding success. From the first ball to the last, each match has contributed to a spectacular showcase of women's cricket at its finest. We sincerely hope that our comprehensive coverage has enhanced your enjoyment. While this tournament has concluded, the global cricketing calendar remains packed with action. You can look forward to a variety of ongoing and upcoming series and matches across different formats. But for now, we sign off from here, take care, ADIOS!

Sophie Devine now walks towards the podium and receives the ICC WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP TROPHY from the ICC Chairperson Greg Barclay. She collects the trophy and hands it over to the teammates as they rise up in jubilation. The champagnes and the fireworks go off and tears roll down in pride with a sense of relief on each one's face.

Sophie Devine, the VICTORIOUS skipper of NEW ZEALAND WOMEN is up for a chat with a broad smile. She begins by saying that it is pretty hard to put into words about how they feel right now. Says she started dreaming the other night as to how it would be to lift that cup in front of her teammates, but also says that she did not wanted to think too far ahead. On being asked about losing 10 games on the trot leading up to the tournament, she says the results didn't go their way but they did prepare well and took steps in the right direction. Says coming to the World Cup, you start from zero. Says the best thing about this group is that they know what they have been trying to achieve in the last 18 months or so. Appreciates Suzie Bates and says she's now the most capped player in the history of the women's game. Adds it is unbelievable to to think that she can go out there and play with such aggression and fearlessness. Says it set the tone for the rest of the lineup. Everyone knows it is so special to have someone like her in the team. Now she appreciates Brooke Halliday and says she was outstanding in the way she hit the pockets. On Kerr, she asserts that everyone knows she is a once-in-a-generation player and jokingly says that she can't feel her legs probably. Ends up by thanking the opposition and saying they were outstanding, and their win over Australia in the semifinal was amazing.

And now, the champions New Zealand Women are requested to walk up to the stage to collect their winner's medallions.

The captain of South Africa, Laura Wolvaardt is in for a chat. She says that they had a really good semifinal. Adds that their focus was on resetting and not thinking too far ahead of themselves. Feels that they did not play their best cricket in the final. Reckons that they let New Zealand score a few runs too many but at the halfway mark, they still felt that they could chase it down. Mentions that they got a good Powerplay as a batting side but New Zealand applied the squeeze during the middle phase. Shares that they have got an exciting group and will now go back to the drawing board to reflect what went wrong for them. Ends by thanking the team management for looking after them and the families for their support.

The ICC Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Sthalekar places the T20 World Cup trophy on the podium. First up, the match officials are receiving their medallions. And now, the South Africa Women are called up on the stage to collect their runner-up medals.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

Melie Kerr is the Player of the Match and also the Player of the Tournament. She is in tears and says that she is a bit speechless and stoked to get the win after what the team went through. She adds that it was a good wicket and slowed down a little bit. Thinks anything above 140 was a good total and Maddy Green hitting that six in the end was great. Mentions that Brooke Halliday took the pressure from her and played brilliantly. On her hobbling off the field, she says that she wasn't cramping too much while batting, but looked in a bit of discomfort after delivering the first ball of her spell. She mentions that her wrong'uns did the trick. Says it's about having confidence and staying focused. Also adds that you want to be a big match player and want to dismiss the big players and if you get the breakthrough, you can push the opposition on the back foot. Further tells that the team's overall performance and bowling partnerships have been amazing. Feels proud while saying that she has now played international cricket for a while and to be playing against the legends of the sport feels great.

Georgia Plimmer is up next for a flash interview. Says that this has been some ride in the last couple of years for her as an individual. Tells that she is grateful to have the opportunity to bat alongside Suzie Bates. Mentions that she had never played in front of such a crowd before the final and it was a cool atmosphere.

Suzie Bates is in next for a chat. Bates says that the team played with real pride and this is an unbelievable feeling. Shares that they knew that South Africa would come hard at them and it was important for them to take the game on. Mentions that Georgia Plimmer batted with real maturity and she was outstanding this tournament. States that this means everything to them as a team. Lauds Sophie Devine for the way she led the side in the tournament.

Lea Tahuhu says that it is a surreal feeling and she is proud of the team. Tells that she is happy that their hard work came to a realisation. Adds that after the opening win against India, they felt that they could achieve something special. Brooke Halliday joins her and says that she cannot describe the feeling in words right now and she could not be more proud of the team.

Izzy Gaze is up next. She says that it has not sunk in yet and this is an incredible feeling. Tells that the belief was always there and they backed themselves to come out on top. Tells that this win is dedicated to Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates.

It is now time to hear from some of the Kiwi players. Rosemary Mair is the first one to have a chat. She says that it is an unbelievable feeling and she is proud of the way the team defied the odds. Tells that it was a great effort to pull South Africa back in the middle phase. Shares that in this team, everyone cares about each other and this is a special group.

Earlier in the game, New Zealand Women were put in to bat first. Their openers came out swinging, immediately adopting an aggressive approach to put pressure on the South African bowlers. While Plimmer failed to make a significant impact, Bates, playing in her 334th international match for New Zealand, stepped up with a valuable 32 runs, despite looking somewhat out of touch. As the innings progressed, the pitch began to slow down, making it harder for the ball to come onto the bat. This led to a decrease in boundary-scoring opportunities after the Powerplay, effectively containing the New Zealand batters and preventing them from accelerating the run rate. However, once they found their rhythm, Kerr and Halliday formed a crucial partnership that flourished for the Kiwis. Their combined efforts provided the necessary momentum, enabling New Zealand to surpass the 150-run mark. This total held particular significance as it had never been successfully chased in a World Cup final before.

From this point, the writing was on the wall. The lower middle order found themselves under immense pressure to salvage the situation. Adding to South Africa's woes, the New Zealand women displayed exceptional fielding, in stark contrast to their opponents' somewhat lackluster efforts earlier in the match.  Amelia Kerr, who had already established herself as the tournament's top wicket-taker, maintained her impressive form with the ball. She delivered a stellar performance, claiming three crucial wickets. Matching Kerr's impact, the young and talented Rosemary Mair replicated her figures. And in the end, the Kiwis effectively ran through the tail, giving absolutely no room to their opponents.

The chase remained closely contested, but in a final, a target of 158 can feel very much higher due to scoreboard pressure. Every dot ball dramatically increased the asking run rate. In an attempt to accelerate, the well-settled Laura Wolvaardt and the dangerous Marizanne Kapp lost their wickets in quick succession, shifting the momentum and seeing South Africa slip from a comfortable 59/1 to a precarious 97/6, approaching the death overs.

Despite setting a formidable target, New Zealand felt the pressure mounting as they failed to make a breakthrough in the first six overs. The pitch seemed to improve as the game progressed. Fran Jonas finally secured the first, albeit expensive, wicket for the Kiwis. Kerr was then brought into the attack to control the run rate, forming a crucial partnership with Leah Tahuhu that significantly tightened the scoring.

And absolutely contradictory scenes from the other camp as the wait for the Proteas to clinch an ICC trophy across men and women, extends! But to be very fair, they were outplayed and outfoxed by a better opposition on the night of the finale. And yet again, South Africa remain, so close, yet so far to get the silverware in their cabinet. South Africa Women began their pursuit with clear intent, led by captain Laura Wolvaardt's aggressive batting. She set a brisk pace, navigating the Powerplay without losing her wicket. Brits played a supporting role, rotating the strike effectively. By the end of the Powerplay, South Africa had reached 47 without loss, slightly ahead of New Zealand's 43/1 at the same stage.

THE FIREWORKS GLITTER THE SKIES OF DUBAI AS THE KIWIS HAVE DONE IT! RUNNER'S UP IN 2009 AND 2010, THE WHITE FERNS HAVE FINALLY ACHIEVED WHAT THEY DREAMT OF OVER THE YEARS! New Zealand awakens to a glorious dawn as the nation's women's cricket team has etched their name in sporting history! In a stunning turn of events, the White Ferns have clinched victory in the T20 World Cup final, defying all odds and silencing doubters who questioned their form leading up to the tournament. This triumph marks a watershed moment for New Zealand cricket, as the women's team brings home their first-ever T20 World Cup trophy. The entire nation, from Wellington to Auckland, Hamilton to Christchurch, and everywhere in between, is united in pride and elation over this remarkable achievement.