Women’s T20 World Cup: Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine’s long-awaited crowning moment amid New Zealand history

One hug spoke a thousand words.

With two balls to go, South Africa needed 38 runs to win the Women’s T20 World Cup. New Zealand’s hands were all-but on the trophy and their legendary captain Sophie Devine looked to the sky in a brave attempt to fight back tears.

And when the victory was confirmed, Suzie Bates, her international team-mate since 2006, leapt into her arms in an overload of emotions from joy, to disbelief, to pure ecstasy at a lifelong dream finally being achieved.

It was the crowning moment for 35-year-old Devine and Bates, 37, who have made a combined 624 appearances for their beloved White Ferns.

For a pair who have seen it all, who have lived and breathed every single moment of New Zealand cricket’s highs and lows – back-to-back final defeats in 2009 and 2010, to the 10 consecutive losses leading into this tournament, all culminating in the most unlikely victory in their 18th year of international sport.

Neither had particularly eye-catching tournaments in terms of statistics, and by their own high standards, but cricket goes beyond numbers.

Bates’ experience at the top of the order allowed her 20-year-old partner Georgia Plimmer to express herself freely, both finishing at the team’s joint-highest run-scorers with 150 each.

Devine’s calming influence as captain and unwavering trust in her players allowed Melie Kerr to take a record-breaking 15 wickets in the campaign.

With Bates’ and Devine’s glory comes an unforgettable moment for a country with a population of fewer than six million, where its best female athletes tend to opt for netball and rugby, where they are not blessed with a talent pool in the vein of Australia, India or England.

But the bigger picture for the women’s game goes beyond New Zealand’s story. Their victory offers hope for a sport that was becoming too predictable, such was Australia’s dominance in winning six of the past seven titles.

It has proven that the gap between Australia and the rest may not be as big as we once thought – but the game must not become complacent. It must be a turning point, not the endgame.