Statstical Analysis: Who were the Top Performers of Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup saw New Zealand crowned champions, proving that the third time is lucky after runners-up finishes in 2009 and 2010. South Africa, despite falling short of their maiden World Cup glory for the second consecutive time, had a bright spot in their captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who once again finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, while Melia Kerr set a new wickets record. Here’s a statistical recap of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Most runs:

Laura Wolvaardt, synonymous with consistency, once again proved her prowess by finishing as the leading run-scorer in this year’s T20 World Cup. Last season, she amassed 230 runs from six innings on quick and bouncy home pitches. This time, she adapted masterfully to the slow, low subcontinent conditions, accumulating 223 runs from six outings, with an impressive average of 44.60 and a strike rate of 113.19. Trailing not far behind her is fellow South African Tamzin Brits, who managed 187 runs from six innings, while several others hovered around the 150-run mark.

Highest strike rates (Batted minimum 4 innings):

Very few were in contention for the top spot when West Indies’ Deandra Dottin made a surprising return from international retirement, earning a place in the World Cup squad. In a remarkable comeback, Dottin tallied 120 runs in her first international campaign since announcing her retirement in August 2022, boasting an impressive strike rate of 162.16. South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp showcased her own improvement, scoring at a strike rate of 145.16, while India’s Harmanpreet Kaur also shone with a strike rate of 133.92.

Highest individual scores:

South Africa’s Anneke Bosch takes the top spot with her career-best score of 74* off 48 balls, a remarkable feat she achieved in the semi-final against six-time defending champions Australia, which propelled her team into their second consecutive T20 World Cup final. Sophie Devine also makes the cut into the top five with a fluent 57* against India in the season opener, setting a strong tone for her team’s campaign. The top five includes Maia Bouchier’s aggressive 62*, Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 59*, and Tamzin Brits’ match-winning 57*.

Most wickets:

New Zealand’s Melie Kerr, named Player of the Final and the tournament, set a new record for the most wickets in a single World Cup edition, finishing with 15 wickets. She surpassed Anya Shrubsole’s previous record of 13 wickets from the 2014 tournament, delivering a standout performance in the final with three wickets alongside a top score of 43 runs. The competition for wickets was intense, with South Africa’s left-arm off-spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba finishing with 12 wickets, while Afy Fletcher, Rosemary Mair, and Annabel Sutherland closely followed, bagging 10, 10, and 9 wickets, respectively.

Best economy rates (Bowled minimum 12 overs):

Australia’s senior pacer Megan Schutt made an early impact in the tournament by leading the wickets tally. Although she didn’t maintain that peak performance, she remained economical throughout, finishing with an impressive economy rate of 4.07, showcasing her discipline. Not surprisingly, the ever consistent and effective Sophie Ecclestone ranks second on the list with an economy rate of 4.50. Meanwhile, Marizanne Kapp not only impressed with her batting strike rate but also maintained her economical bowling, solidifying her status as an MVP.

Best bowling figures in an inning:

A total of six bowlers produced four-wicket hauls in this season’s World Cup, with West Indies’ Karishma Ramharack leading the way with remarkable figures of 4/17 against Bangladesh in a crucial match. Following her is Rosemary Mair, whose four-wicket performance against India in the season opener included the prized scalp of Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.