New Zealand wins first Women's T20 World Cup

New Zealand achieved a historic milestone by winning their first Women's T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in the final match held at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament was initially set to take place in Bangladesh; however, due to political unrest in the country, it was relocated to the United Arab Emirates, which retained the hosting rights. This change allowed for a successful tournament that showcased the growing competitiveness of women's cricket on an international stage. Notably, Scotland made their debut in the Women's T20 World Cup, marking a significant expansion of the tournament's reach and inclusivity. Throughout the tournament, New Zealand demonstrated strong performances, particularly in the semi-finals where they overcame the West Indies to secure their place in the final. The defending champions, Australia, faced an unexpected exit when they were defeated by South Africa in the semi-finals, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition. Ashleigh Gardner was recognized for her outstanding contributions throughout the tournament, earning the Player of the Tournament award. New Zealand's victory not only signifies a breakthrough for the team but also reflects the increasing popularity and development of women's cricket globally, as more teams are emerging as competitive forces in the sport. Host: United Arab Emirates as playing host; Bangladesh Cricket Board retained hosting rights Dates: 03-October-2024 to 20-October-2024 Venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai; Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Teams: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies Number_of_Teams: 10 Number_of_Matches: 23 Tournament_Format: Group stage and knockout Winner: New Zealand Runner_Up: South Africa Final_Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Final_Score: New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs; South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs Final_Result: New Zealand won by 32 runs Player_of_the_Tournament: Amelia Kerr Most_Runs: Laura Wolvaardt - 223 runs Most_Wickets: Amelia Kerr - 15 wickets The tournament was originally scheduled for Bangladesh but was relocated to the United Arab Emirates because of political unrest in Bangladesh, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board retained hosting rights. Scotland qualified for the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time. Defending champions Australia were beaten by South Africa in the semi-finals. New Zealand defeated West Indies in the semi-finals and South Africa in the final to win their first Women’s T20 World Cup title.