Amelia Kerr struck a superb century to guide New Zealand to a 92-run win against the Proteas Women in the fifth and final T20 International (T20I) at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. The triumph gives the home side a 4-1 series victory.
Kerr dispatched 19 fours and one six on her way to a career-best score of 105 off 55 balls to help the home side post a daunting 194/6 before Lea Tahuhu led the charge with ball in hand with figures of three for 15 to restrict the Proteas to 102/9.
South Africa won the toss and put the hosts into bat. New Zealand lost an early wicket when Izzy Gaze (1) was trapped LBW in the second over by Ayabonga Khaka (3/32), before Georgia Plimmer (27) and A. Kerr added 45 runs for the second wicket.
With the hosts’ innings gaining momentum, Tumi Sekhukhune (3/32) was introduced into the attack and made an immediate impact. The right-arm seamer claimed two wickets with her first two deliveries, dismissing Plimmer and the in-form Sophie Devine (0) to reduce the home side to 54/3 in the ninth over.
Those wickets brought Brooke Halliday (26) to the crease, who combined in a crucial 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Kerr, with the White Ferns captain taking the game to South Africa.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 16th over, with Halliday caught off the bowling of Khaka. Despite the loss of the fourth wicket, Kerr continued to attack the South African bowlers, helping New Zealand close in on the 200-run mark before bringing up her second T20I hundred.
The Proteas Women managed to pick up two more wickets late on, with Sekhukhune claiming another scalp before Khaka removed Kerr, as the White Ferns ended on 194/6 in their 20 overs.
In the chase, South Africa experienced a difficult start as the visitors lost four wickets in the powerplay. Tahuhu grabbed two wickets, alongside Nensi Patel (1/18) and Sophie Devine (2/8), to remove Suné Luus (13), Chloé Tryon (1), Anneke Bosch (9) and Laura Wolvaardt (9), leaving the Proteas 41/4 after six overs.
Annerie Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk (6) then guided their side to 57/4 in the ninth over before Kerr (2/6) clean bowled de Klerk. Dercksen added a valiant 23 before New Zealand made further inroads, with Kerr and Devine dismissing Dercksen and Karabo Meso (0), leaving the visitors reeling on 71/7.
South Africa eventually ended on 102/9 in their 20 overs after Flora Devonshire (1/19) and Tahuhu picked up the final two wickets to fall, helping New Zealand claim a comfortable victory.
Proteas Women’s ODI Squad against New Zealand
Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).
Fixtures (all times are SAST)
ICC Women’s Championship ODI Series
1st IWC ODI – Sunday, 29 March at 03:00
New Zealand vs South Africa – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
2nd IWC ODI – Wednesday, 01 April at 00:00
New Zealand vs South Africa – Basin Reserve, Wellington
3rd IWC ODI – Saturday, 04 April at 00:00
New Zealand vs South Africa – Basin Reserve, Wellington
