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• Dottin, Fletcher included as seven teams represented in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament

  Players from seven teams have been included in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament.

  Champions New Zealand and runners-up South Africa are represented by three players apiece (including the 12th player) while stars from England, India, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Australia are also selected.

  Amelia Kerr, who picked up Player of the Match in the final as well as the Player of the Tournament trophy, is a natural inclusion following a superb campaign with bat and ball.

  The 24-year-old took 15 wickets – the most by any player at a single ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – and scored 135 runs, top-scoring with 43 in the final to help the White Ferns lift the trophy for the first time.

  She is joined in the squad by teammates Rosemary Mair, who took 10 wickets at 11.70 including three in the final, and Eden Carson, listed as 12th in this team after nine wickets of her own.

  South Africa’s opening pair finished as the two highest run-scorers in the competition and both Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits are selected.

  Wolvaardt was remarkably consistent, with four scores of 40 or above including a best of 59 not out in the opener against West Indies helping her to a tournament-high tally of 223 at 44.60. The 25-year-old, who is named as captain of the Team of the Tournament, struck at 113.19 across her six innings.

  Her opening partner Brits also contributed valuable runs throughout the competition, making 187 in total with a best of 57 not out, as the pair played an integral role for South Africa in the powerplay.

  Danni Wyatt-Hodge joins them in the top order after scoring 151 runs in four innings. She top-scored with 41 in England’s opening victory against Bangladesh before important knocks of 43 and 51 not out in wins over South Africa and Scotland respectively.

  No South African had reached double figures for wickets in a single ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before but Nonkululeko Mlaba changed that with a string of impressive displays in the UAE.

  She entered the wickets column in all six matches she played in, taking four for 29 against West Indies and three for 12 against Scotland, while Mlaba also earned the key scalp of Tahlia McGrath in South Africa’s semi-final win over Australia and two wickets in the final.

  Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana takes the gloves following an impressive competition. She led her side to their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory for 10 years against Scotland and impressed with the bat against both West Indies (39) and South Africa (32 not out).

  She is joined in the middle order by Harmanpreet Kaur, who ended the tournament with a remarkable average of 150 after being dismissed just once in four innings. The India star made unbeaten half-centuries against both Sri Lanka and Australia.

  Megan Schutt is also selected following a history-making competition which saw her become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history.

  The Australian took her tally to 48 with eight victims in 2024, including three for three against New Zealand, and went at just 4.07 runs per over across the tournament.

  West Indies pair Deandra Dottin and Afy Fletcher complete the line-up. Dottin, who came out of retirement to feature in the competition, made 120 runs and took five wickets. She also struck nine sixes, six more than the next highest by an individual player.

  Leg-spinner Fletcher is included after taking 10 wickets at 11.50, including three apiece against England and Scotland. The 37-year-old also took two scalps against both Bangladesh and New Zealand.

  ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – Team of the Tournament

  Laura Wolvaardt (capt)
  Tazmin Brits
  Danni Wyatt-Hodge
  Amelia Kerr
  Harmanpreet Kaur
  Deandra Dottin
  Nigar Sultana (wk)
  Afy Fletcher
  Rosemary Mair
  Megan Schutt
  Nonkululeko Mlaba
  12th player - Eden Carson

   

• Sri Lanka see off West Indies by DLS in first ODI

  Sri Lanka drew first blood in their ODI series with the West Indies, who they beat by five wickets in Pallekele.

  The tourists were going well on 185-4 after 38.3 overs, before their innings was cut short due to rain, and the hosts subsequently chased down their DLS-adjusted target of 232 successfully to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

  Electing to bat after winning the toss, the West Indies made a promising start but found themselves at 54-3 before Sherfane Rutherford joined Keacy Carty in the middle.

  Amid their cautious approach on the greasy surface, Rutherford notched up 74 not out, and it looked like they would easily surpass the 200 mark until the rain halted their momentum.

  Sri Lanka stumbled to 45-3 after the seventh over in a nervy start, but an impressive 137-run stand between Charith Asalanka (77) and debutant Nishan Madushka (69) got them back on track and well on course for victory.

  Despite them both falling, Kamindu Mendis (30 not out) and Janith Liyanage (18 not out) saw the hosts over the line.

  Data Debrief: A mammoth stand

  Rutherford led the West Indies' charge by top-scoring with 74, claiming his second ODI half-century along the way.

  However, it proved academic, with Asalanka and Madushka spearheading Sri Lanka's response, with contributions of 77 from 71 balls and 69 off 54 deliveries respectively.

  It proved more than enough to see the hosts over the line, despite the best efforts of Gudakesh Motie, who finished with figures of 3-47.

• New Zealand claim surprise maiden T20 World Cup title

  New Zealand won their maiden Women's T20 World Cup title, seeing off South Africa with a 32-run victory in the final on Sunday.

  They came into the tournament as underdogs on the back of a torrid losing streak, but held strong for a comprehensive win to claim a surprise crown.

  Suzie Bates got New Zealand off to a strong start with her knock of 32, but it was Amelia Kerr's vital contribution of 43 that spurred them through the innings, despite a slight lull in the middle stages.

  Brooke Halliday (38), who had a 57-run partnership with Kerr, ensured the White Ferns finished solidly against a wasteful South Africa bowling performance, as they racked up 158-5.

  However, Kerr shone again in the field, finishing with 3-24, while Rosemary Mair also took 3-25 in an impressive display.

  The Proteas dominated in the powerplay, as Laura Wolvaardt (33) and Jasmin Brits (17) combined for 51 on the first wicket, but they started to stumble shortly after Kerr ended the former's stand.

  Only Chloe Tryon (14) and Annerie Dercksen (10) hit double figures after the top order, and the wickets toppled as New Zealand claimed an emotional victory.

  Data Debrief: Taking the crown

  New Zealand were on a 10-match losing streak coming into the World Cup, but have lost just once during the tournament - a blip against Australia in their second match.

  History was also not on their side in T20 World Cup finals, with the team losing successive show-piece games in 2009 and 2010.

  However, they put in an admirable performance on Sunday, with Kerr's three wickets at the Dubai International Stadium seeing her finish as the tournament's leading wicket taker.

  It was yet more heartbreak for South Africa, though, as they lost their second consecutive final, with the country's wait for a global cricket title continuing.