New Zealand’s Eden Carson, Georgia Plimmer and Molly Penfold celebrate their victory at the end of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup cricket final match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

New Zealand produced a clinical performance in a high-stakes final to beat South Africa by 32 runs and win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday (October 20, 2024).

It turned out to be a historic Sunday for New Zealand cricket as the White Ferns got their hands on the ICC trophy hours after the men recorded their first Test win in India after 36 years.

South Africa, playing their second successive final, sent New Zealand in to bat and the Sophie Devine-led side thrived under pressure to post an above par 158 for five at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Amelia Kerr collected 43 off 38 balls while Brooke Halliday made an impactful 38 off 28 balls to push New Zealand beyond 150 in what has been a low scoring tournament. South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 off 27) took her team to 47 for no loss in the powerplay before New Zealand bowlers were able to stifle the opposition.

South Africa could not keep with the scoring rate and ended with 126 for nine in 20 overs. Kerr starred with her leg-spin as well, ending with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.

It was a remarkable change of fortunes for New Zealand, who had come into the tournament with the baggage of 10 losses in a row. They were the best bowling unit in the competition by a fair distance and on Sunday (October 20, 2024), improved their batting by a few notches. There was no coming back from South Africa after they lost their gutsy leader Wolvaardt in the 10th over. Kerr got the prized wicket as Wolvaardt, in her attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, found Suzie Bates at cover.

When the hero of the semifinal, Anneke Bosch, perished five balls later, the writing was on the wall. South Africa’s untested middle-order could not respond to the pressure put by the New Zealand bowlers.

Brief scores: New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31). South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Amelia Kerra 3/24).

New Zealand players celebrate winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on October 14, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

India were eliminated from the Women’s T20 World Cup after New Zealand scripted a commanding 54-run victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Monday (October 14, 2024) to reach the semifinals for the first time since the 2016 edition.

India’s only chance to make the semifinals was depended on a Pakistan win with an inferior Net Run-rate compared to theirs.

Pakistan were very much in the game after restricting New Zealand to a meagre 110 for six in 20 overs.

However, Pakistan’s batting crumbled badly as they were shot out for 56 in just 11.4 overs as White Ferns entered the semifinals with three wins from four games in Group A.

Australia tops group

Australia topped the group with eight points while New Zealand came second with six points. The loss to New Zealand in their tournament opener effectively cost India a place in the last four.

Spinner Amelia Kerr took three wickets but it was seamers Lea Tahuhu (1/8) and Eden Carson (2/7) who opened the floodgates.

Pakistan were supposed to reach the target in less than 12 overs to qualify but they ended up being all out before that.

Earlier, Pakistan bowlers gave a good account of themselves restricting New Zealand to a modest total.

While openers Suzie Bates (28) and Georgia Plimmer (17) added 41 runs for the opening stand and just when it seemed that the duo has created a solid foundation, the Pakistani spinners suddenly applied the choke on the opposition.

The two spinners — off-break bowler Omaima Sohail (1/14 in 4 overs) and left-arm orthodox Nashra Sandhu (3/18 in 4 overs) — were brilliant through the middle overs with 21 dot balls and four wickets between them for only 29 runs.

South Africa produced a superb all-round performance to thrash Scotland by 80 runs in their Group B match at the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai on Wednesday.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, South Africa chalked up a tournament high 166-5 in their 20 overs with captain Laura Wolvaardt (40), Tazmin Brits (43) and Marizanne Kapp (43) all feasting on some weak bowling and poor fielding.

Left-arm spinners Nonkululeko Mlaba (3-12) and Chloe Tryon (2-22) claimed five wickets between them and off-spinner Sune Luss chipped in with 1-9 for a massive 80-run win that handed Scotland its third successive loss in its maiden appearance at the tournament.

Three of the top four South African batters – captain Laura Wolvaardt (40), Tazmin Brits (43) and Marizanne Kapp (43) — helped their team post the tournament’s highest total so far of 166-5 after Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat.

Wolvaardt and Brits combined in a rapid 64-run opening partnership off 45 balls before Kapp provided a late flourish with a 24-ball knock that featured six boundaries and helped South Africa cross the 160-run mark.

Katherine Fraser (1-15) broke the opening stand when she made amends for dropping Wolvaardt early and Olivia Bell took a sharp catch to dismiss the South Africa skipper in the eighth over.

Scotland came back briefly in the middle overs before Kapp played quickfire and provided South Africa a strong finish.

Scotland’s chase got derailed inside the powerplay when Tryon took simple return catches and dismissed Sarah Bryce (5) and Kathryn Bryce (7). Mlaba then sliced through the order in middle overs as Alisa Lister (12) and Fraser (14) could only reach double figures.

With its second win in three games, South Africa rose to No. 1 in group B with four points on a better run-rate than England, which also has four points after beating South Africa and Bangladesh in group matches.

Scotland is at the bottom of the table after defeats to Bangladesh and West Indies with a game against England remaining.

(with inputs from AP)

Teammates congratulate India’s wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, centre, after she took a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka’s Sugandika Kumari during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, on October 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

The seasoned duo of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur was back to its sizzling best as India gave a massive boost to their net run rate with an 82-run hammering of Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.

The 98-run stand between Shafali Verma (43 off 40) and Smriti (50 off 38) set the tone for the innings after India opted to bat at the Dubai International Stadium. Harmanpreet (52 not out off 27) then got welcome runs in the death overs to push India past 170, the highest total of the competition thus far.

Sri Lanka, who had got the better of India in the Asia Cup, could never really get going in the run chase and were all out for 90 in 19.5 overs. It was Sri Lanka’s third loss in as many games, effectively putting them out of the semifinals race.

With their second win in three games, India remain in the hunt for a last four spot from Group A. The loss to New Zealand had put a severe dent to India’s net run rate and they needed a big win to make amends, something they managed on Wednesday.

It was also India’s biggest margin of victory in the tournament history, pushing their run rate to positive from negative.

India’s last group game is against the mighty Australia.

Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur struck on the very first ball of the innings with substitute Radha Yadav taking a stunning catch to get rid of Vishmi Gunaratne.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapattu was the next one to depart as Shreyanka Patil had her caught at first slip for a classical off-spinner’s dismissal.

Sri Lanka were reduced to six for three when Harshitha Samrawickrama went for a flashy drive against Renuka but ended up nicking it to the wicket-keeper. Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana then got into the action and struck thrice to increase the victory margin for her team.

Earlier Smriti, who had struggled in the tournament up till now due to the slow nature of pitches, found it tough initially before getting into the groove.

Shafali coming up with regular boundaries at the other end helped Smriti settle down.

While the southpaw could not put away off-spinner Inoshi Priyadharshani, she deposited left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari down the ground for her first boundary.

A little later, Smriti stepped out to another left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera to smash India’s first six of the tournament, highlighting the team’s serious struggles in the power-hitting department.

Shafali on the other hand began well before slowing down. Her aggressive play in the powerplay took India to 41 for no loss.

Both openers were dismissed off successive balls in the 13th over, bringing Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet into the middle.

Harmanpreet, whose consistency has been questioned time and time again, showed that she remains India’s most belligerent batter. She looked in business ever since she slog swept Kumari for six in the cow corner region in the 15th over.

Her whirlwind knock comprised eight boundaries including two straight hits off Udeshika Prabhodani in the final over.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne c sub (RP Yadav) b Renuka 0 Chamari Athapaththu c Sharma b Patil 1 Harshitha Samarawickrama c Ghosh b Renuka 3 Kavisha Dilhari c Renuka b Reddy 21 Anushka Sanjeewani st Ghosh b Sobhana 20 Nilakshika Silva c Shafali b Reddy 8 Ama Kanchana c sub (RP Yadav) b Reddy 19 Sugandika Kumari c Ghosh b Sobhana 1 Inoshi Priyadharshani c sub (RP Yadav) b Sobhana 1 Udeshika Prabodhani c Mandhana b Sharma 9 Inoka Ranaweera not out 2

Extras: (LB-5) 5

Total: (All out in 19.5 overs) 90

Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-4, 3-6, 4-43, 5-57, 6-58, 7-61, 8-65, 9-86

Bowling: Renuka Singh 4-0-16-2, Shreyanka Patil 4-0-15-1, Deepti Sharma 3.5-0-16-1, Arundhati Reddy 4-0-19-3, Asha Sobhana 4-0-19-3.

India: Shafali Verma c Gunaratne b Athapaththu 43 Smriti Mandhana run out 50 Harmanpreet Kaur not out 52 Jemimah Rodrigues c Prabodhani b Kanchana 16 Richa Ghosh not out 16

Extras: (NB-1, W-4) 5

Total: (For Three Wickets in 20 overs) 172

Fall of Wickets: 1-98, 2-98, 3-128

Bowling: Inoshi Priyadharshani 2-0-11-0, Sugandika Kumari 3-0-29-0, Udeshika Prabodhani 3-0-32-0, Kavisha Dilhari 2-0-11-0, Inoka Ranaweera 3-0-26-0, Chamari Athapaththu 4-0-34-1, Ama Kanchana 3-0-29-1

Australian players celebrate the wicket of New Zealand’s Brooke Halliday during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and New Zealand at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Australia’s batters provided their experienced bowling unit with sufficient runs to defend on a slow wicket and register a comprehensive 60-run win over New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup here on Tuesday (October 8, 2024).

Opener Beth Mooney top-scored with a 32-ball 40 as Australia posted a challenging 148 for eight. Ellyse Perry chipped in with a 24-ball 30, after Alyssa Healy contributed 26 in 20 deliveries at the top of the order.

In reply, New Zealand were all out for 88 in 19.2 overs with Megan Schutt returning excellent figures of 3/3 in 3.2 overs. Annabel Sutherland (3/21) and Sophie Molineux (2/15) were the other major wicket-takers for Australia.

With this result, Australia grabbed the top spot in Group A with two wins from as many as matches.

Opting to bat, six-time winners Australia were off to a fine start with Healy and Beth Mooney adding 41 runs for the first wicket in just 5.2 overs.

Healy was adjudged out lbw after being hit on the pad by left-arm spinner Fran Jonas but after being persuaded by Mooney, the batter opted for a review, and it proved to be the right call, as the on-field umpire’s decision was overturned.

Healy responded with two fours and in the next over, she lofted Eden Carson over extra cover region for another boundary.

New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, who picked up 4/26, also pulled off a brilliant running catch to send back Phoebe Litchfield (18 off 18).

Brief scores:

Australia: 148/8 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 40; Amelia Kerr 4/26)

New Zealand: 88 all out in 19.2 overs (Amelia Kerr 29; Megan Schutt 3/3, Annabel Sutherland 3/21).

India Women’s Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana celebrate their partnership during the Semi-Final match against Bangladesh Women’s in the Womens Asia Cup T20, 2024, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday (October 8, 2024) said skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will be leading the side against Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 World Cup, having got retired hurt in the previous game due to discomfort in her neck.

Harmanpreet had walked off the field when she was batting on 29 against Pakistan on Sunday. India won that game by six wickets but still face early elimination from the tournament following the loss to New Zealand in their opener.

“She [Harman] is doing fine and she will be fine for tomorrow,” Mandhana told reporters.

However, there is no clarity over the fitness status of all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar who missed the Pakistan game.

“Pooja, I think the medical team is still working on her. So, the update will come only tomorrow during the match. But yeah, I don’t think I can say anything at the moment,” said Mandhana.

Conditions different from our expectations

Mandhana, the best batter in the side, has failed to get going thus far on the slow wickets of the UAE where stroke making has proved to be extremely tough.

India face Sri Lanka on Wednesday, a team that stunned them in the Asia Cup final not so long ago. They are yet to play Australia and their hopes of making the semifinals hang by a thread.

India chased down 106 in 18.5 overs against Pakistan, mindful of the run rate factor in the business end of the tournament.

“It [run rate] definitely was last match, but as I said, the conditions are a lot different to what you expect as a batter so you are probably thinking to get that run rate high and also you firstly you have to win the match first that’s the first priority for us,” said Mandhana.

“So, it’s a balance between trying to find out what’s the best for the team. Of course, you know in the last match I couldn’t like I started off fine but then later on I consumed a few dot balls which was a little irritating for me…”

“…but yeah having said that as batters we have to be really smart we can’t we can’t just go out there thinking that oh we are going to take on this bowling lineup and we are just going to cruise because of course the conditions and the outfield is a lot different,” she said.

Mandhana said conditions in the tournament have been different from their expectations when asked about Harmanpreet going back to number four against Pakistan after batting at three against New Zealand.

“Definitely the wicket condition, the ground conditions are a lot different to what we thought when we came here. That also is a big consideration [in deciding batter order],” she said.

“The conditions, I don’t see any except the New Zealand match, we haven’t seen any team go over 140 in the whole tournament, 135-140, be it a day game or a night game, says a lot about the conditions,” she added.

India’s Arundhati Reddy delivers a ball during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

India pace bowler Arundhati Reddy was on Monday (October 7, 2024) reprimanded for giving an aggressive send-off to Pakistan’s Nida Dar during their Women’s T20 World Cup contest here.

Reddy had taken three wickets in India’s six-wicket win over the arch-rivals on Sunday. She let emotions get the better of her after castling Dar in the 20th over of the Pakistan innings as she gestured in the direction of the pavilion.

“Reddy was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match’,” said the ICC in a statement.

“In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Reddy’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.”

Reddy admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction.

On-field umpires Eloise Sheridan and Lauren Agenbag, third umpire Jacquline Williams and fourth umpire Claire Polosak levelled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.

Match referee G.S. Lakshmi and umpire Vrinda Rathi were the Indian names in a 13-member all-female panel of match officials announced by the ICC on Friday (September 27, 2024) for next month’s Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 3 to 20.

Both Lakshmi and Rathi were also in the panel during the previous edition of the tournament held in South Africa in 2023. The edition’s panel has three match referees and 10 umpires.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Eloise Sheridan and Lauren Agenbag of South Africa have been appointed as on-field umpires for the marquee India vs Pakistan match at the Dubai International Stadium on October 6. Jacquline Williams of the West Indies will be the television umpire.

The tournament begins on October 3 with the opening clash between Bangladesh and Scotland, which will be officiated by Claire Polosak of Australia and Agenbag.

India will begin their campaign on October 4 against New Zealand, which will be officiated by Williams and Anna Harris of England, with Polosak as the TV umpire.

New Zealand’s Kim Cotton and Agenbag will be the on-field umpires while England’s Suzanne Redfern will be TV umpire for India’s game against Sri Lanka on October 9.

Redfern and Cotton are the on-field umpires for India’s match against defending champions Australia on October 13, while Williams will be in charge of TV duty.

The umpires and match referees for the semifinals and final, to be played on October 17, October 18 and October 20 respectively, will be announced later.

The ninth edition of the tournament was supposed to be hosted by Bangladesh but was moved out due to the political unrest in the country.

The tournament will take place across two venues in the UAE – Dubai and Sharjah.

The ICC on Tuesday (August 20, 2024) moved the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE, saying it “wasn’t feasible” to conduct the event there after governments of a number of participating countries advised against travelling to the unrest-hit nation.

The event, which also features India and is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 20, will now be staged in Dubai and Sharjah with Bangladesh retaining the hosting rights, ensuring that it receives its share of revenue.

“It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a statement which avoided any direct mention of the violence and tension in the South Asian nation.

Allardice said the Bangladesh Cricket Board explored “all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted” there.

“…but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible. However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future,” he said.

Over 230 people have been killed in incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, taking the death toll to more than 600 since the massive protest by students against a quota system in government jobs first started in mid-July.

An interim government has been formed and 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been named its Chief Adviser.

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s president Najmul Hassan Papon, known to be close to the former PM, has also fled the country.

The ICC decision comes after Australia T20 skipper Alyssa Healy expressed her apprehensions about playing there on Monday.

“I would find it hard to fathom playing there at the moment, as a human being. I feel it might be wrong thing to do,” Healy was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

Allardice said that all available options were explored before deciding on shifting the venue.

“I’d also like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for their generous offers of support, and we look forward to seeing ICC global events in both of those countries in 2026.” UAE was a feasible venue as both Dubai and Sharjah are located close to each other and logistical cost of conducting the event there won’t shoot up drastically.

As anti-government protests reached a crescendo on August 5, Hasina resigned and fled the country. The 76-year-old embattled leader landed in India and is currently staying in a safe house in Delhi.

There have been reports of atrocities against the nation’s minority communities in the aftermath of the change of guard.

India were on May 5 placed in Group A alongside defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in Bangladesh from October 3-20 this year.

With all their group matches scheduled to be played at Sylhet, India will open their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 and face off against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 6 as the ICC announced the schedule for the ninth edition of the Women’s T20 WC.

India’s next assignment will be against yet-to-be-identified Qualifier 1 team on October 9 while their clash against six-time world champions Australia will be on October 13.

“Each side will play four group matches at the tournament, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the cut-throat semi-finals on 17 and 18 October ahead of the Final in Dhaka on 20 October,” the ICC posted on its website.

“In total, there will be 23 matches played across 19 days in Dhaka and Sylhet, with reserve days in place for both semi-finals and the final should they be required,” the ICC added.

Hosts Bangladesh are placed in Group B along with South Africa, England, West Indies and Qualifier 2.

The two teams will enter the main tournament after the Qualifying event identifies the two finalists later today.

Ireland, UAE, Sri Lanka and Scotland are in the fray.

Ireland will take on Scotland in the first semifinal while UAE will face Sri Lanka in the second. Both the games will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.