The New Zealand women’s cricket team has been nominated for the Team of the Year award at the 62nd ISPS Handa Halberg Awards, winners of which will be revealed early next year.
The White Ferns are among the finalists nominated for the prestigious Team of the Year award at the 62nd ISPS Handa Halberg Awards. They were nominated after claiming their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2024. Sophie Devine led successfully as the White Ferns clinched their maiden World Cup title.
This remarkable triumph came after a string of setbacks, as the team had suffered ten consecutive defeats in T20Is throughout the bilateral series leading into the tournament. However, under the resilient leadership of Sophie Devine and a collective team effort, the White Ferns turned their fortunes around in stunning fashion, culminating in a thrilling victory over South Africa in the final.
New Zealand’s road to glory in the 2024 World Cup was nothing short of a fairy tale. The team had been grappling with consistency, but the tournament brought out their best. Sophie Devine, who had been part of the squad that lost the 2009 final to Australia, played an instrumental role in leading her side to redemption. Alongside her, veterans like Suzie Bates and rising stars such as Melie Kerr, Brooke Halliday, and Rosemary Mair stepped up at crucial moments.
They began their 2024 World Cup with a victory over India to kick off their campaign before suffering a loss to Australia. Following their consecutive wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan ensured them a spot in the top four stages. In the semi-finals, they held their nerves against West Indies as they were defending a small total of 128 to win the match by eight runs as New Zealand faced South Africa in the final.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup final, batting first New Zealand posted a competitive total of 158/6, with Melia Kerr leading the charge with a sublime 43 and Georgia Plimmer adding a crucial 38. New Zealand’s disciplined bowling with Melie Kerr once again providing crucial breakthroughs in the middle over dismantled the proteas’ batting unit as New Zealand registered a 32-run victory in the final.
Melia Kerr emerged as the tournament’s standout performer, delivering consistently with both bat and ball and was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets. Her all-around contributions were pivotal in the White Ferns’ campaign, earning her the Player of the Match in the final as well as the Player of the Tournament.
For Sophie Devine, lifting the World Cup was a career-defining moment. Having endured years of near-misses and heartbreaks, Devine’s leadership was the cornerstone of the team’s success. The victory marked the end of a long-standing trophy drought for the White Ferns, who had last come close to a T20 World Cup title in 2009. For veterans like Devine and Bates, who had been part of the 2009 squad, this triumph was particularly emotional.
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