New Zealand players sang a stunning Maori song to celebrate their maiden T20 World Cup victory. The incident happened after the award ceremony on Sunday, October 20. All-rounder Amelia Kerr took control of the guitar and led the choir as the NZ players made their World Cup victory absolutely magical.
The video of the performance, posted by the International Cricket Council on Instagram, already has nearly 200,000 likes on Monday morning. In the comments section of the video, fans lauded the New Zealand women's team for their 'pitch-perfect' singing and for making the world a better place with their beautiful voices.
Amelia Kerr starred for New Zealand with both bat and ball on Sunday, helping the White Ferns secure their first Women’s T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs. This victory added to their ODI World Cup triumph, marking them as the first New Zealand team to win a T20 World Cup, a feat yet to be achieved by the men's team.
South Africa, in search of their inaugural T20 title, faced another disappointing finish after losing in the 2023 final to Australia.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, South Africa initially looked strong, but New Zealand set a challenging total of 158 runs for 5. Amelia Kerr was the standout performer, scoring 43 runs off 38 balls. Brooke Halliday contributed 38 runs, and opener Suzie Bates added 32 runs. South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2 wickets for 31 runs.
South Africa's response started promisingly, reaching 51 runs for 1 wicket in just over six overs. However, the momentum shifted as they lost regular wickets, ending their innings at 126 runs for 9. Wolvaardt was the top scorer for her side with 33 runs off 27 balls, but Kerr's brilliant bowling, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs, proved decisive.
Kerr was named both player of the match and player of the tournament, finishing with a record 15 wickets in six games. “I’m a little bit speechless and so stoked to get the win, considering what this team has been through. It’s what dreams are made of,” Kerr remarked, reflecting on the team’s journey.
New Zealand, having faced a 10-match losing streak prior to the tournament, showcased remarkable resilience, losing only once in the group stage and reaching the final for the first time in 14 years.
Their innings featured aggressive batting, particularly during the power play, where they scored 43 runs despite an early loss. Bates and Kerr put together a solid partnership, although South Africa’s bowlers, including Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk, managed to take crucial wickets.
As South Africa began their chase, Wolvaardt’s early aggression with five boundaries raised hopes, but once she was dismissed by Kerr, the batting lineup faltered. Regular wickets fell, with Rosemary Mair also excelling with 3 wickets for 25 runs.
Captain Sophie Devine expressed her pride in the team's achievement, emphasizing the hard work and determination they had displayed over the past 18 months. “It is hard to put into words what it means to this group of players and for New Zealand cricket,” she said, as the team celebrated their historic win.
