T20 World Cup was a triumph for both New Zealand and UAE, and could usher in a new era for women's cricket

Sharjah and Dubai proved capable hosts after having the event foisted on them at short notice, capped with an impressive crowd for the final

New Zealand's players celebrate after beating South Africa to win the Women's T20 World Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 20, 2024. AP

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine lifts the Women's T20 World Cup trophy after defeating South Africa. Getty Images

New Zealand's Eden Carson and Georgia Plimmer celebrate after sealing victory over South Africa by 32 runs to win the Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai. Reuters

South Africa opener Tazmin Brits trudges off the field after being dismissed for 17. AFP

New Zealand fielder Georgia Plimmer celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss South Africa's Marizanne Kapp. AFP

Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored 33 off 27 balls for South Africa. Reuters

New Zealand fielder Suzie Bates celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss South Africa's Annerie Dercksen for 10. AFP

New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, center, celebrates with teammates after claiming the wicket of South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt. Kerr finished with figures of 3-24 off her four overs. AP

Amelia Kerr top-scored for New Zealand with 43 off 38 balls helping her team reach 158-5. AFP

South Africa's Nadine de Klerk celebrates with teammates after dismissing New Zealand captain Sophie Devine for six. AFP

New Zealand's Brooke Halliday on her way to 38 off 28 balls. AP

Nonkululeko Mlaba of South Africa celebrates with teammate Tazmin Brits after taking the wicket of Amelie Kerr. Getty Images

New Zealand opener after being bowled by South Africa's Nonkululeko Mlaba for 32. AP

The pain was just too raw. Ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Esha Oza, the host country’s leading female player, admitted she had plenty of misgivings about watching the tournament.

Sixteen more runs in the decisive qualifying fixture against Sri Lanka, and the UAE would have been playing in it.

Sure, having the World Cup on home soil was going to be a good vehicle through which to promote the game to women and girls. Just so long as those players who got so close before having it cruelly snatched away from them were not forced to watch.

Oza’s status as the national team captain brought with it some commitments, though, even though her team were not invited.

On the opening day, she had to deliver the trophy onto the field at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, before Bangladesh and Scotland got the action underway. She smiled her way through it, presumably through gritted teeth.

Seventeen days later, though, and she was converted. Just like everyone else. She had been one of the 21,457 people present during the final between New Zealand and South Africa.

As she gazed on appreciatively as Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, raised the trophy while the fireworks cracked high above, it can only be guessed what she was thinking. Maybe 'who would not want to be a part of this'? And 'we have to get there next time'. And so the wheel continues to turn.

This tournament, organised at six weeks’ notice after having to relocate from Bangladesh, and overseen by an event organiser, Chris Tetley, who officially clocked off from his last shift after 25 years with the ICC on the Friday afternoon before the final, was a triumph.

Consider the attendance figure for the final - 21,457 for a game of women’s cricket in the UAE. And one that did not involve India.

It is remarkable. Yes, the tickets were benevolently priced. But there have been men’s international matches in this country in the past, involving some of the most recognisable players in the sport, that have had single digit attendances when admission has been free.

Of course, the majority were swallowed up by Indian supporters, in the hope that their heroes in blue might be there. They lent their voices to those of the South African and New Zealand expatriates in the crowd, and the atmosphere crackled because of it.

This tournament had a totally different feel to all the major cricket events that have gone before in this country. More humility, and less cynicism, mainly.

With that in mind, it had the most fitting winners imaginable. The relatable everywomen of New Zealand. Like Eden Carson, who put her career as a vet on hold to pursue cricket, and then became a world champion.

And Suzie Bates, the actual vet(eran), who likes to think she is Michael Jordan in clutch moments. Playing make-believe in order to channel the instincts of a great. Even though she actually is one herself.

And Devine, the aptly-named captain who might just be a little bit too good to be entirely relatable. Who, 14 years after coming within an Ellyse Perry boot of potentially taking New Zealand to glory in a T20 World Cup, finally achieved just that.

It was also the tournament when the wonder women of Australia were finally proven to be vincible. And even in that moment they won as much as they lost.

Australia were the most magnificently magnanimous losers in the semi-final, despite having just had their hopes of a fourth successive title harpooned by South Africa. They were an example of how to lose with grace.

Yes, maybe it is easy to be gracious in defeat when you have won as much as they have. But there was not a hint of snideness about Alyssa Healy, the injured and defeated captain, who even suggested that women’s cricket will be better for having a new name on the trophy at the end of this tournament.

Three days later, that is precisely what came to pass. New Zealand, newly engraved. New winners, leading the bright new dawn for women’s cricket.

And one that everyone might feel they can be part of. Even those aspiring women and girls getting their first glimpse of the future in the stadiums of Sharjah and Dubai.