Amelia Kerr leads the way as Kiwis celebrate T20 World Cup victory with stunning Māori song | WATCH

Dubai: New Zealand's historic victory at the Women’s T20 World Cup was marked by a touching and culturally significant moment when the team sang a traditional Māori song in celebration. The emotional performance took place after the award ceremony on Sunday, October 20, with all-rounder Amelia Kerr leading the way.

Kerr, who had taken charge of the guitar, orchestrated the moving rendition, as the New Zealand players harmonized beautifully, bringing an extra layer of magic to their victory. The spontaneous celebration was a heartfelt tribute to both their triumph and their cultural heritage.

The performance, captured in a video shared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Instagram, quickly gained widespread attention. By Monday morning, the video had already garnered nearly 200,000 likes. In the comments, fans from around the world praised the team for their 'pitch-perfect' singing and their ability to spread joy and positivity, with many noting how the performance made the world feel like a better place.

New Zealand’s victory, which marked their first-ever T20 World Cup win, was made all the more memorable by this moving tribute, highlighting the close bond within the team and their deep connection to Māori culture.

‘It’s what dreams are made of’: Kerr 

Amelia Kerr, the Player of the Tournament in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, was left ‘speechless’ after her outings with both bat and ball guided New Zealand to their maiden title following a 32-run win in the final against South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday. 

The 24-year all-rounder helped the Kiwis defeat South Africa, who finished as the runners-up for the second year running, by 32 runs.

She helped New Zealand set a fighting total of 158/5, scoring a steady 43 runs in the first innings. She then stepped up with the ball and built enormous pressure on the Proteas batters with her three wickets, including the all-important wicket of skipper Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run scorer in this edition of the tournament, when she looked set at 33 runs to restrict their opponents to 126/9.

"I guess bowling's what first got me in the White Ferns and it's something that I've always wanted to keep getting better at. So to be able to pick up wickets and have the confidence to step up in big moments,” she added.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine appreciated Kerr’s efforts and claimed she is a ‘once in a generation player.’

"We all know she is a once-in-a-generation player. What she was able to do tonight was incredible. Physically to do what she did with the bat, I think she can't feel her legs. She is not a bad cricketer but the person that she is, the world is her oyster,” said Devine. (With inputs from Agencies)