The White Ferns of New Zealand are the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup champions after beating South Africa by 32-runs in the final in Dubai on Sunday night.

The New Zealand were a lot more clinical in their batting and managed to frustrate the South African bowlers, while when it came to the bowling their discipline was a lot better. South Africa conceded 15 extras with the ball opposed to the seven by New Zealand.

Amelia Kerr - ICC

South Africa won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first. The White Ferns scored 158/5 in their 20-overs, which was the second highest score in a final.

Amelia Kerr scored 43 in a patient innings, while Brooke Halliday was more aggressive in scoring 38.

Nonkululeko Mlaba was South Africa's best bowler with 2/31. Marizanne Kapp was once again excellent but failed to take a wicket in her spell of 0/25. Chloe Tryon was also excellent with her 1/22

The captain Laura Wolvaardt was the only Proteas batter to trouble the scorers with 33, Tazmin Brits scored 17 off 18, while Tryon scored 14 and Annerie Dercksen scored 10. Kerr took 3/24 with the ball and Rosemary Mair took 3/25 as South Africa was restricted to 126/9.

A disappointed Wolvaardt who kept her emotions in check really well said they were simply outplayed by the team that deserved to win the T20 World Cup.

“It’s obviously not a nice feeling,” said Wolvaardt.

“I think a lot of us really thought this was our opportunity. I think probably let them score a bit too many with the bat.

“They came out with some real intent and I think it sort of caught us on the back foot a little bit. We thought we could sort of ride it out hopefully take a wicket or two but they sort of just kept going, rotated really well.

Laura Wolvaardt - ICC

“I think they had a really good last five or six overs where they really pushed that run-rate and we were perhaps a bit off. Yeah, but obviously after the power play we had with the bat we thought the game was on but yeah just lost a bit of momentum outside the power play.”

Wolvaardt downplayed that the psychological element came into play as South Africa suffered a third defeat in a final in the past year and a half. The prolific run-scorer said cricket is a funny game and their best performance was no doubt in the big semi-final win against Australia.

“I don't think so - I think if that was the mindset we would have lost the semi-final to the world champions Australia,” Wolvaardt added.

Amelia Kerr was named as the Player of the Match and Player of the T20 World Cup - ICC

“I think that game brought out the best in us and that was a very high-pressure game. Cricket is just a bit random sometimes. Sometimes you have your best game and I think we played our best game a couple of days too early and we were beaten on the day today.

“They were the better side today.”

Kerr of New Zealand was named as the Player of the Final, as well as the Player of the Tournament. A silver lining for South Africa is that Wolvaardt scored the most runs in the tournament with 223, while Tazmin Brits scored the second most with 187. Mlaba took the second most wickets at the T20 World Cup with 12 sticks.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport