The Maniototo cricketer and her idol and Otago team-mate, Suzie Bates, were crowned world champions after the White Ferns beat South Africa by 32 runs in the T20 World Cup final in Dubai yesterday.
It was a fairytale outcome for the Otago duo, considering hardly anyone gave the White Ferns a chance after losing 10 consecutive games going into the World Cup.
Carson, 23, was a standout with the ball across the tournament, taking nine wickets, including three for 29 in a player-of-the-match effort in the semifinal.
Back home in Gimmerburn, Carson’s family was up early to watch her become a world champion.
Her father, Tony, said it was "absolutely amazing".
After the White Ferns won their opening game against India, he knew it would set them up well for a shot at the title.
And when South Africa dispatched defending champion Australia in one semifinal, he told his Maniototo golf mates "we could win this".
His daughter thought about walking away from cricket as a teenager, so becoming a world champion spoke to her resilience.
"When she was at St Hilda’s, she wanted to give up at one stage and I said, ‘You’re very good, just hang in there’."
It paid off when the spinner was offered an Otago Sparks contract while in year 12 and was given a national contract in 2020, aged 19.
The victory came with a healthy pay cheque for the White Ferns players, who pocketed a $3.8 million purse.
The prize pool, double what was offered at the last World Cup, will be shared equally between the 15-player squad with each player receiving about $230,000.
Bates, 37, was shocked to finally get her hands on the trophy after finishing runner-up twice.
"We have just played with real pride," Bates told Sky Sport.
"Whatever happened today, I was so proud of the group, but to think we have won the thing is unbelievable."
Bates raced to embrace captain Sophie Devine. The pair have been together fighting to win the title since the inaugural World Cup in 2009.
"This means everything to us.
"When you play team sport, you want to be a champion, and we have fought our way back to the top," she said.
"She’s [Devine] been so outstanding leading this team."
