Being back on home soil while on top of the world was a "pretty surreal" experience for Otago world champion cricketer Eden Carson.
The Maniototo cricketer, who attended St Hilda’s Collegiate, came back to her stomping grounds along with "idol and team-mate" Suzie Bates on the back of New Zealand’s win in the T20 Women’s World Cup final in Dubai last month.
Carson and Bates were home in Dunedin on Saturday to share their success by bringing along their T20 trophy to Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The pair also sat side by side as they signed countless bats, posters, shirts and even a giant cut-out of Bates’ face from one young fan.
Carson said it was "pretty surreal coming home to show the younger generation the trophy and bring a smile to their faces".
"It’s pretty special to see all these happy people - I’m pretty proud to be from Dunners and to be able to bring [the trophy] back."
"It’s all only just sunken in coming home - I really didn’t think there was going to be this big of a turnout," Carson said.
"Coming home with a trophy ... I was like ‘Oh my God, we’ve actually won’ - that’s when it sank in."
For young fan Lillian Palmer, 6, meeting the pair was described as "pretty cool" and "totally awesome".
Lillian played cricket with her brother for the Turners team at the Albion Club, and said it was a "big maybe" on whether she would be holding that trophy, too, some day.
Dunedin is the first stop on the White Ferns’ trophy tour around the country to celebrate the win.
The White Ferns shocked viewers with their fairy-tale win after losing 10 consecutive games in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Carson stood out in the final against South Africa, and took nine wickets through the tournament, including three for 29 in a player-of-the-match effort in the semifinal against the West Indies.
For now, she did not know if she would ever get used to the title "world champion Eden Carson", but having Bates sitting next to her with that title meant a lot to her.
