STATS
Follow UsMelie Kerr, the leading wicket-taker of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, continued to break records in the tournament's final against South Africa.
She picked up three key Proteas wickets and ended with 15 wickets in the World Cup — the most for any bowler in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Batting first, New Zealand showed high intent right from the powerplay and scored 43 runs after attacking 78.4% of the deliveries, which is their second-highest in the tournament. However, New Zealand lost Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine between overs 7 to 10, and the responsibility came on vice-captain Kerr’s shoulders, who was splendid with the bat as well.
The allrounder, who had only scored 92 runs in the tournament before the final at a slow strike rate of 82.1, looked full of intent when she came to bat in the final and smashed four fours and ran a lot of twos to score 43 runs in 38 deliveries. She got great support from left-handed batter Brooke Halliday from the other end, who was batting with a lot more rhythm and scored 38 off just 28 deliveries.
Both innings allowed New Zealand to score a very competitive 158/5. South Africa, in their quest to chase the highest total in a T20 World Cup final, started with aplomb, scoring 47/0 in the first six overs.
However, left-arm spinner Fran Jonas got Tazmin Brits caught down the ground, and then after a few quiet overs, Kerr bowled a loopy full delivery and got skipper Wolvaardt to hit it straight to Suzie Bates at covers. She dismissed Anneke Bosch, the hero from the semifinal for South Africa, by getting her caught by keeper Isabella Gaze, and finally, Annerie Dercksen, after she mishit one straight to the fielder at covers.
Those two scalps helped Kerr break the record for most wickets in a single World Cup edition and also became the highest wicket-taker for the White Ferns in a single calendar year in T20I cricket.
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