‘Generational chokers’: Nation’s torment extends in World Cup final hell

A proud cricketing nation is a laughing stock after a drama-charged T20 World Cup Final that turned into a nightmare for them.

Another world cup final. Another South African choke.

That’s what fans around the world are saying after New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr led her team to Women’s T20 World Cup title glory in Monday morning’s final in Dubai.

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The Kiwis won their maiden crown by a commanding margin of 32 runs as South Africa’s run chase fell apart.

Kerr, who was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, top-scored with 43 as New Zealand posted an imposing 158-5 in their 20 overs.

The 24-year-old from Wellington then took 3-24, crucially picking up the key wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, to restrict South Africa to 126-9 in their 20 overs.

“We all know she is a once in a generation player,” said New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.

“What she was able to do tonight was incredible. Physically to do what she did with the bat, I think she can’t feel her legs.

“She is not a bad cricketer but the person that she is, the world is her oyster.”

Victory marked a sweet finish to Devine’s own career.

The win came 14 years after the White Ferns lost to Australia by just three runs in the 2010 final. They also lost to England in the 2009 championship match.

New Zealand celebrates as South Africa choked again.

It also marks a remarkable change of form as they had lost 10 T20Is coming into the tournament. They had won just five of their previous 22 before their eye-catching win over India in their opening game.

For South Africa, who demolished six-time winners Australia in the semi-final, it made for a double disappointment having lost last year’s final to the Aussies in Cape Town.

It also added to the nation’s reputation of being cricket world cup final choke artists.

In the last 18 months, South Africa has lost two women’s T20 world cup finals - and the men’s T20 world cup final to India in June.

The demons of previous world cup failures continues to hang above the current generation.

The list of world cup final chokes is of course headlined by the men’s team’s semi-final implosion against Australia at the 1999 ODI World Cup.

South Africa’s only major honour in the game is the Champions Trophy title won in 1998.

It’s why fans were all saying the same thing.

Generational Chokers.
Chokers across genders and age group pic.twitter.com/NZdYQLDtdM

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) October 20, 2024

*Another T20 World Cup Final heartbreak for South Africa 💔🇿🇦*#SAvNZpic.twitter.com/sS7XFgb9IE

— Ahsan Shah 💙 (@parh_ly_ahsan) October 20, 2024

If icc introduced new tournament named as who's biggest choker of the game. South Africa might also choke there also.

— Indian Cricket 🇮🇳🏏 (@Indiancric_) October 20, 2024

Choker again choke
Third consecutive final losses for South Africa #worldcuppic.twitter.com/shmyYzisyL

— M Sultan Msd (@MSultanMsd) October 20, 2024

South African captain Wolvaardt was blunt when speaking after the match.

“Our focus was just to reset, not get too ahead of ourselves,” she said.

“We knew that we still had a really quality opponent in New Zealand to go and yeah, we just didn’t play our best cricket tonight.”

After being put in to bat, the New Zealand openers began aggressively with Suzie Bates, playing in her 334th international, making a rapid 32.

When Devine was leg before to Nadine de Klerk on review, the innings appeared to be faltering but the arrival of Brooke Halliday lifted the tempo as she added 57 in seven overs with Kerr for the fourth wicket.

Halliday hit three boundaries in her 38 but was dismissed when she picked out Bosch on the midwicket boundary.

Sophie Devine of New Zealand lifts the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Trophy. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images.

New Zealand's players celebrate their victory. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP.

Kerr slammed back-to-back boundaries off Mlaba before finding Tazmin Brits to fall for 43 from 38 balls.

Maddy Green, however, maintained the momentum with 12 off six balls including the only six of the innings.

Wolvaardt (33) and Brits (17) got South Africa off to a roaring start bringing up the 50 in the seventh over before three wickets fell in quick succession.

Brits was caught by Green at long-on before Kerr in her second over removed both of South Africa’s main batters, Wolvaardt for 33 and Bosch, who had played so well in the win over Australia South Africa had slumped to 64-3 and New Zealand were in command. With the required run rate rising, South Africa’s middle and lower order, who have barely batted in this tournament, struggled to get going with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.

Kerr took a catch to remove Nadine de Klerk and then claimed a third wicket when Bates, arguably the outstanding fielder at the tournament, took her third catch of the innings to remove Annerie Dercksen. Kerr finished with a tournament-leading 15 wickets.

Fast bowler Rosemary Mair made her presence felt with 3-25 as the tail folded. The last pair held out for the final over but could not prevent New Zealand from celebrating their first title.

Victory completed a memorable day for New Zealand cricket after the men’s team clinched a first Test win in India for 36 years earlier on Sunday night.

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Generational chokers’: Nation’s torment extends in World Cup final hell