New Zealand's Historic T20 World Cup 2024 Victory

It’s a sweet swansong for Sophie Devine with the New Zealand women’s cricket team she captained to the top, as they defeated South Africa at Dubai on Sunday to claim the T20 World Cup 2023. The win was almost surreal for many and a huge shock, especially coming as New Zealand entered the event on a ten-match losing streak.

Devine said of that period, “I think the game against India was a massive moment for us. It set the tone for all of our successes later. It is really hard to pin down to one specific moment, but what makes it happen in the background is important. That performance by a number of those who took the field against India really paved the way for what followed.”

Sophie Devine

During the tournament, New Zealand suffered one loss only, which was a huge loss to Australia. However, even after that defeat, New Zealand did a miracle by winning against Pakistan and making it to the semifinals where it also made another thunderous coming by defeating the champions of the 2016 T20 World Cup, West Indies.

With this victory, New Zealand proceeded to the championship match against South Africa, who had just knocked out Australia. Kiwis came out with full vigor and proved their class. Amelia Kerr batted well and scored 43 runs and took three wickets. She was the highest wicket-taker of the entire tournament and bagged 15 wickets in six matches. The Kiwis won by 32 runs and added their first ICC women’s trophy since the ODI World Cup in 2000.