After a fairytale run to the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai, South Africa succumbed to New Zealand who ran out as the surprise champions with a comprehensive 32-run win over the Proteas.

Before coming into the tournament, the White Ferns had lost 10 successive matches and this is their first T20 title, after losing successive finals in 2009 and 2010.

The report of the match played on Sunday, however showed they were on top at the halfway point, but the Proteas started strongly in pursuit of 159 for victory, reaching 51-0 inside seven overs before slipping to 77-5 and then stuttering to 126-9.

“Leg-spinner Melie Kerr finished with 3-24, becoming the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, and seamer Rosemary Mair took 3-25 in an emotional occasion for a team with so little expectation of triumph,” the report said.

“Kerr also added a vital contribution with the bat, scoring 43 from 38 balls in a crucial partnership of 57 with Brooke Halliday to set up the White Ferns’ imposing 158-5.

“In a fluctuating innings, New Zealand dominated the powerplay with 43-1 before South Africa fought back in the middle overs which included a spell of 48 balls without a boundary.

“It is the second year running that South Africa have lost the final as New Zealand put in a complete performance when it mattered the most which resulted in tears of joy for two of the sport’s most experienced campaigners in Suzie Bates and captain Sophie Devine.

“In the first year that the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced equal prize money for it’s men’s and women’s tournaments, New Zealand will take home $2.34 million (£1.75m) with South Africa taking $1.7m (£878,000).”

The South African women cricket national team caused the biggest upset at the T20 World Cup in Dubai, by eliminating six-time winners, Australia, racing to an emphatic eight-wicket win.

The defending champions also missed out on an eighth final appearance as the Proteas reached their target of 135 with 16 balls to spare with Anneke Bosch striking a sensational unbeaten 74 from 48 balls while captain Laura Wolvaardt added a classy 42 in a second-wicket partnership of 96 that left Australia reeling.

The brilliant run of the South African women was executed by their bowlers who smartly restricted Australia to 134-5 in a curiously underwhelming innings.

Australia paid the price for stuttering in the middle overs, with the run-rate rarely creeping over a run a ball as captain Tahlia McGrath trudged to 27 from 33.

South Africa started the chase confidently with a powerplay of 43-1, comfortably ahead of Australia’s 35-2 at the same stage, before Tazmin Brits’ departure for 15 opened the door for the phenomenal match-winning partnership.

Bosch, whose previous high score in the tournament was 25, crunched eight fours and a six in her match-winning effort, rewarding the faith of the South Africa selectors who kept her at number three, and meant they reached their second successive final after the 2023 edition on home soil.

Reacting to the win, South African cricket writer Firdose Moonda told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We have had an incredible 18 months of sport in South Africa.

“We are a country with very little financial resource, compared to others like Australia for example, and we are a country punching so far above its weight, while being one of the most diverse teams and unifying South Africa.

“Many people survive on hope alone in our country and these women have brought so much hope.”