Everyone is always looking for a narrative, New Zealand couldn’t have provided a better one: from ten losses in a row to World Champions, slipping under the radar, holding their nerve when England and Australia lost theirs, to win the tournament.A brilliant team performance, from the grandmas to the fresh-faced twenty-somethings.A cracking end to a memorable tournament, played in front of 21,000 spectators, and the perfect topping to an amazing day for New Zealand cricket.And that’s it from us – Raf’s report will be here shortly.The third and final Test starts tomorrow in the small hours.

Thanks for all your messages – good bye!Now New Zealand for the handshakes.Bouncing on air, they collect their medals.Nine tournaments, twice runners-up, now winners:Sophie Devine – “I started to let myself dream last night about what it would be like to hold that trophy up in front of that team.For New Zealand cricket, it has been a long time between drinks.“Results haven’t gone our way recently but we knew what we were building to.

We played the two best teams in the row but at a World Cup everyone starts at zero,On ‘the grandmas’: To have Suz in the side – so stoked in what we were able to do for her,Lea is the sort of person you want in your team, she’ll scrap for you, she was fantastic todayAnd on changing her mind on stepping down as captain of T20 team,“No chance,I am done.

”“Amelia Kerr is a once in a generation player – I’m pretty sure she can’t feel her legs at the moment and she’s probably chundered everywhere.She’s an amazing cricket and person.”And at last she is freed to lift the trophy.Up go the fireworks, up goes the champagne and New Zealand are crowned champions at last.South Africa collect their medallions.

Laura Wolvaardt: “We had a really good semi-final, the focus was to reset, but we didn’t nail our cricket today.“They really came at us hard in the power play, at first we thought we could ride the wave, but they just kept on going.At the half way stage we were still backing ourselves though.”“I though it was game on, but overs 7-11 was not our best phase but they bowled really well.I’m very excited for the future, very experience players like Marizanne Kapp but we’ll keep building, go back to the drawing board.

”She thanks the management, who don’t always get mentioned,And all the family who flew out,I love this from Nasser,“Some of those catches Suzie Bates has taken, the joy on her face, that you can still have that hunger and passion for the game – it is like a virus that spreads through the game,”The pillars of New Zealand Cricket ❤️Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu 👏 #CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup #SAvNZ pic.

twitter.com/Iv3aX4mD0CAh! A figure at last – 21,000 people were in the stadium today, though most of them have drifted back through the turnstiles before the presentation ceremony.“I’m a little bit speechless and I’m just so stoked to get the win after all the team has been through.I thought 145 kept us in the game.Brooke Halliday took so much pressure off me, she did it in the semi-final to do it again in the final was class.

“I was cramping up in the field, found myself hiding in the ring and short third,The first ball I bowled I cramped up and I thought I’m not going to be able to bowl as fast today… Bowling is what first got me in the White Ferns,”The go between? I love it, I’ve played international cricket for a while, and I’ve been able to play with some of the greats but to be a similar age to the young players is amazing too,Georgia Plimmer on Suzie Bates: “Shes been incredible not just for New Zealand cricket but the world game, she’s an exceptional human being and I’m so unbelievably lucky to have played alongside her,”An all time great is now a world champion: Susie Bates “I’m in shock really.

This tournament little things have gone our way,Whatever happened today I was really proud of the group and to think we’ve won the thing is unbelievable,We just wanted to take the game on, we wanted to play with freedom, Georgia was incredible for such a young kid,”Re Devine,“This means everything for us, we’ve played team sport for so long.

WEepulled our way back to the top.She’s been so outstanding leading this team, I think we’ll probably have a cuddle for even longer later.There have been some dark times, we questioned ourselves as leaders.”A delighted Gaze: “It hasn’t sunk in.I heard the snick (from Bosch) really clearly.

We’ve got so much belief, we came into the tournament not on the best streak but we’ve done it.This is for them [the older players], hopefully we’ve made them proud.“Devine hugs every member of her crew, before wiping away her own tears with the elbow of her sleeve.The other side of the mirror, subdued embraces from South Africa.A grim-faced Wolvaardt leads her team out to shake hands – their second runner’s-up prize in a T20 final in succession.

20th over: South Africa 126-9 (Mlaba 4, Khaka 4) The Trophy is New Zealand’s for the first time! Hugs, tears and huge huge smiles.19th over: South Africa 121-9 (Mlaba 2, Khaka 1) Just the formalities to go.38 needed off six ballsA second from the over! Jafta has a huge swing, misses, and the ball alleluias into the top of leg stump.Tryon has to go for it, leans back, hits big, but not big enough and Green collects, almost down on her haunches at long on.18th over: South Africa 117-7 (Tryon 14, Jafta 5) Kerr is bowled out – three wickets to go with her 43 runs – player of the match for sure, player of the tournament too? 42 needed in 12 ballsA third wicket for Kerr, a third catch for Bates – prowling at as cover as another fielder ducks and slides out of the way so they don’t collide.

17th over: South Africa 107-6 (Tryon 13, Dercksen 8) Glum faces from South Africa.Dercksen , bright green boots, hauls the ball down the ground.Some cracking fielding by Green stops the boundary, though leaves her sprawled over the rope.52 needed from 18 balls16th over: South Africa 100-6 (Tryon 12, Dercksen 2) Halliday the hidden assassin – she so befuddles South Africa with her allsorts, that they can’t get a handle on her.59 needed in 24 ballsThe captain’s hunch brings a terrible curled up marmite sandwich of a first ball and a wicket with the second! Bates takes a back of the hand catch with joy at extra cover.

15th over: South Africa 96-5 (Tryon 11, Luus 8) Tryon goes straight and big and bold and sends Tahuhu for four,Another big shot but can’t find the rope,A healthy ten from the over but the RR has crept up to more than 12,14th over: South Africa 86-5 (Tryon 3, Luus 6) Kerr thinks she’s got an lbw, Devine shrugs and goes upstairs – but ball grazes glove and no cigar,New Zealand have no reviews left.

13th over: South Africa 81-5 (Tryon 1, Luus 3) Luus and Tryon are energetic in their dibbing and dabbing – but South Africa need more than that now.Simon McMahon: “Think South Africa have two chances now, Tanya.Slim, and none, and slim just left town…”Two in two as Mair comes back on.A super ball, and de Klerk can only muscle an outside edge to Kerr on the edge of the circle.Kapp swipes to deep midwicket – but Plimmer is waiting – and holds on.

A moment caught in time as the camera catches Kapp’s moment of knowing disappointment as Bates roars with joy.12th over: South Africa 77-4 (de Klerk 6) Grim faces on the South African bench.Gaze is convinced she has got another catch as de Klerk goes to sweep.We go upstairs.Anna Harris is in the third umpire’s room.

She calls for ultra edge – we wait…,Plimmer helps Carson stretch out her legs…not out,A clever bit of fielding on the rope comes to naught as Kapp finds the rope from the bounce back,But she falls next ball,11th over: South Africa 70-3 (Kapp 3, de Klerk 4) The two new batters farm Jonas nicely for six runs, but the run rate is now over nine an over.

The tiniest tickle of cough on the flat line ends Bosch’s World Cup story.Kerr didn’t look so convinced when Devine went for the review – but Gaze had the look of a woman who knows.Two huge wickets in the over, and Kerr, who is moving like a cheap clockwork cracker toy, continues her incredible WC form.10th over: South Africa 64-3 (Kapp 1)The big one! Woolvaardt decides to go for broke against a limping Kerr, she goes up, but can’t beat the ring of players in the circle and Bates jumps neatly to collect the catch, then roars in celebration.9th over: South Africa 59-1 (Wolvaardt 33, Bosch 5) In terms of runs scored at this point in the game, the teams are neck and neck.

Bosch ignores a bouncer from Tahuhu, looks at the umpire for the signal, but it doesn’t come,Just one from the over- aggressive, accurate stuff from Tahuhu,8th over: South Africa 58-1 (Wolvaardt 32, Bosch 5) And here is Kerr, who must have recovered enough to bowl,South AFrica don’t try anything too fancy, just milk her for six,A loud lbw appeal agains tBosch, but the umpire says no and would have been umpire’s call.

7th over: South Africa 52-1 (Wolvaardt 30, Bosch 1) Jonas, who starts the over with a couple of dots, with the vital breakthrough – though no time for celebrating yet as the wicket only brings in Bosch,”As you correctly pointed out this is the first time none of the big three are present for the final, leaving the aspiring big teams a chance for glory,” taps Jeremy Boyce,“Don’t forget Windies in all this, who did a job on England,There’s only room for two in a final though, obviously.

...” Yes, they were really impressive I thought against New Zealand, particularly in the field.New Zealand – so far – have upped their game in the field since that semi-final.

A cracking pick up and ping from Brits – but it is a big ground, and a long boundary, and Green is waiting.Very well held.New Zealand with the very very very needed breakthrough.6th over: South Africa 47-0 (Wolvaardt 29, Brits 15) Fireworks are sprayed into the air as Wolvaardt stands and drives – with the power of the mountain – to the mid-on boundary, nearly decapitating her partner at the same time.Win predictor still hedging its bets: 50/50.

Now Brits gets in on the act, taking a huge stride and lifting an over pitched ball from Mair for four.4th over: South Africa 37-0 (Wolvaardt 24, Brits 10) Excellent from Carson, who pulls the initiative back – conceding just three singles from her second over.3rd over: South Africa 34-0 (Wolvaardt 23, Brits 8) Wolvaardt is the leading scorer in this tournament, with more fours than anyone – and here is another as she picks Tahuhu off her boots and sends her lfying for four.And another! Slammed over deep mid wicket Tahuhu regains control with a final dot ball.3rd over: South Africa 24-0 (Wolvaardt 14, Brits 7) Jonas with her slingshot action.

She drags one down, just spitting distance from the bowling crease, and Wolvaardt tucks in with a flamed backfoot drive.New Zealand struggling to grip the ball in the humidity.2nd over: South Africa 14-0 (Wolvaardt 7, Brits 4) It’s baby-faced Carson at the other end, who has been so effective this tournament.Starts with two dots but Wolvaardt tucks into the fourth, swivels and punchily pulls her down for four.Amelia Kerr is back on the field but is visibly uncomfortable with cramp and is given another rehydration drink on the rope