Members of the New Zealand White Ferns cricket team which beat South Africa by 32 runs in the final of the women’s Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday will split prize money of around USD 2.3 million.
That works out at around USD 155,000 or NZD 256,000 per team member, a life-changing windfall for players who for years have struggled for years to achieve financial parity with their male counterparts.
New Zealand’s first-ever victory in the World Cup of cricket’s shortest format was a massive surprise. The White Ferns had lost 10 consecutive T20 matches before beating South Africa in a warm-up match.
That pre-tournament success proved a turning point for New Zealand who beat India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, losing only to Australia on the way to the semifinals.
South Africa ousted six-time champion Australia in a massive upset in the semi in which New Zealand beat the West Indies.
New Zealand made 158-5, batting first in the final, helped by Suzy Bates who made 32, Amelia Kerr who made 43 and Brooke Halliday who made 38. Kerr then took 3-24 and Rosemary Mair 3-25 as New Zealand restricted South Africa to 126-9.