How the ‘grandmas of cricket’ inspired New Zealand to T20 World Cup glory
Al Jazeera
From the heartbreak of losing the 2010 T20 World Cup final to the being crowned champions in 2024, New Zealand’s Devine and Bates have seen it all.
Cricketer Amelia Kerr, whose all-round performance in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup guided New Zealand to glory, has credited her older teammates Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates for inspiring her to take up the sport as a schoolgirl 14 years ago.
Kerr, who top-scored with 43 as New Zealand posted 158-5 in Sunday’s final in Dubai and then took 3-24 with her leg-spin bowling as South Africa fell short by 32 runs, said she wrote stories about winning the trophy with Devine and Bates after watching them in the final of the 2010 tournament.
But 14 years ago, Kerr watched forlornly on television as New Zealand, with current skipper Devine and opening bat Bates in the side, lost the 2010 final to Australia by just three runs.
It was a moment that triggered a love for the game and a desire to put the record straight, preferably with her two heroes by her side.
“I was inspired to be a White Fern watching that 2010 World Cup which Sophie was at,” an emotional Kerr said in her news conference after the final.
