The ISPS Handa Halberg Awards is New Zealand’s Premier Sports event organised to recognise the sensational achievements of New Zealand athletes in the field of sport. The funds raised by the Halberg Foundation will be contributed towards empowering people with physical disabilities in New Zealand to encourage them to unleash their sporting prowess.
A total of 33 finalists have been announced across six different categories for the Halberg Awards night. One of the categories in the Sportswoman of the Year for which a total of six candidates have been announced who will be contesting in the final. The nominees include three-time Canoe Sprint gold medal winner at the Paris Olympics Dame Lisa Carrington, the gold and silver medal winner at Velodrome, cyclist Ellesse Andrews, gold medal winner, Golf Hall of Fame member Lydia Ko, the White Ferns cricketer Amelia Kerr, Rower Emma Twigg and Tennis player Erin Routliffe.
The young 24-year-old all-rounder Melie Kerr played a pivotal role in helping New Zealand clinch their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title in the 9th edition of the tournament, which was hosted by Bangladesh and played in the United Arab Emirates from 3rd October to 20th October 2024.
New Zealand was led by skipper Sophie Devine for the last time in the T20I format before stepping down as the skipper, adding a glorious feather to her cap by leading the White Ferns to their maiden T20 title triumph by defeating South Africa led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt in the final by 32 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The 24-year-old all-rounder Melie Kerr became the first woman cricketer to be named the Player of the Match in the final and also the Player of the Tournament in the same edition. She was awarded the Player of the Match in the final courtesy of her brilliant all-round show, 43 (38 balls) with the bat and returning with match figures of 4-0-24-3 with the ball in the final.
She was also the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 15 wickets at a sensational average of 7.33 and an economy of 4.85 in 6 innings with the ball for her side. Apart from her exploits with the ball, she was also the 3rd highest run-scorer for New Zealand with 135 runs at an impressive average of 27 in 6 innings with the bat for her side in the tournament.
In the T20I format this year, she has scored 387 runs at a strike rate of 103.75 and a decent average of 24.18 in 18 innings for her side. As far as the bowling is concerned, she has picked up 29 wickets at an average of 15.55 and an economy of 6.81 in 18 innings with the ball in the format.
As far as the ODI format is concerned, she has picked up 10 wickets in seven innings with the ball for her side so far. She has also scored 204 runs at an average of 34 in 7 innings with the ball for her side in the format this year.
The upcoming awards event is the 62nd edition of the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards which will take place on 18th February 2025 (Tuesday), at the Spark Arena Auckland. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
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