New Zealand Women tour of South Africa - Series Digest

October 14, 4th T20I

After three washouts in East London, we finally had a completed T20I between South Africa and New Zealand in Benoni, where New Zealand won by eight wickets after a terrific run-chase by the seasoned pair of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr. The pair put on a century stand and scored individual fifties to ensure a comfortably successful run-chase of a competitive target.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, despite the early wicket of Tazmin Brits, a 59-run stand off just 37 balls between Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch set the foundation for a sizeable total. Once Bosch was knocked over by Penfold and Wolvaardt fell after reaching her fifty, Sune Luus and Chloe Tyrone took over, hammering 52 runs in the final four, to post a competitive 172-4 in twenty overs.

In response, after a fluent start, New Zealand lost Suzie Bates and Kate Anderson within the powerplay, with the required rate soaring over the run-rate. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine took over the chase and put on a commendable 135 runs in 79 balls to take them over the finish line, and give New Zealand a 1-0 lead after four matches, and one to go.

Brief Scores: South Africa Women 172-4in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 53, Sune Luus 45, Jess Kerr 2-41) lost toNew Zealand Women 174/2in 18.5 overs (Amelia Kerr 70*, Sophie Devine 61*, Masabata Klaas 1-29) by 8 wickets

October 10, 3rd T20I

A third T20I on the trot was washed out in East London, as the series finally moves to Benoni to possibly provide a completed game at last.

October 8, 2nd T20I

The second T20I, in East London, also got washed off after just one innings. Rain had already delayed the start of the game and hosts South Africa duly opted to bowl once the field was ready. Maddy Green's unbeaten 45 was the only talking point in an otherwise disappointing outing with the bat for the White Ferns. Besides getting New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine for just 2, Chloe Tryon picked up three late wickets to finish with figures of 4-15, keeping the visitors to just 111/9 from their 20 overs. However, the rain arrived again before the chase could get underway and, after nearly an hour's delay, had the final say.

October 6, 1st T20I

The first T20I between New Zealand and South Africa at Buffalo Park, East London was abandoned without a ball bowled or a toss due to incessant rain at the venue.

October 1, 3rd ODI

A fluent unbeaten century from Amelia Kerr helped New Zealand finish the ODI leg of the tour on a high note despite conceding the series. Chasing a modest target of 210 in the third ODI, New Zealand rode on a positive start from Kerr even though Suzie Bates was stuttering at the other end. Bates eventually fell for a 25-ball 9 but Kerr continued to bat in fluent fashion and stitched a 64-run stand for the second wicket alongside Sophie Devine.

The hosts did stage a comeback in the middle overs when Nonkululeko Mlaba struck a couple of times as New Zealand lost three quick wickets to lose ground. However, Kerr continued her heroics and forged a vital stand with Brooke Halliday to revive the chase again. The two batters continued to keep South Africa at bay as Kerr got the job done in the penultimate over while also reaching three figures.

Earlier in the day, the contest was reduced to 48 overs per side due to a delayed start and was then again reduced to 45 overs per team as South Africa made a poor start. After the hosts lost two early wickets, Devine added to their woes by striking twice in the span of six overs to reduce South Africa to 67/4.

Marizanne Kapp was the only batter who looked at her best with the rest faltering around her. Chloe Tyron hung in for a while but New Zealand kept chipping away. Kapp did strike a 73-ball 72 but with her departing in the 43rd over, South Africa had to settle for only 209.

Brief scores: South Africa 209 in 44.3 overs (Marizanne Kapp 72; Sophie Devine 3/33, Lea Tahuhu 3/49) lost to New Zealand Women 210/4 in 43.2 overs (Amelia Kerr 100*, Brooke Halliday 37*; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/41) by 6 wickets.

2nd ODI, September 28

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 124 gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, helping hosts chase down the 254-run target with seven wickets in hand. Opening the chase for South Africa, Wolvaardt lost two partners in quick succession before Sune Luus (53 off 57) joined hands to resurrect the innings from a precarious 43/2 in the eighth over. The pair put on 98 runs for the third wicket stand, before Luus fell soon after completing her half-century. Wolvaaardt then took the lead, and forged a 116-run unbroken stand with Marizanne Kapp (45* off 49) to help her side over the line without any further hiccups, in the 46th over.

New Zealand's 253 was powered by Melie Kerr, who top-scored with an 88 and bailed the visitors from a similarly delicate position of 66/2 after Masabata Klaas got rid of both veterans Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine in her succeeding overs. Kerr missed out on a hundred herself, but put on a vital 92-run stand with Maddy Green (43 off 50) that gave the White Ferns something to play with. South Africa clawed their way back through a middle-overs collapse, triggered by Nonkululeko Mlaba's triple strikes. New Zealand slipped from a rather comfortable 172/3 to 199/8. The lower-order resistance came from Hannah Rowe and LEa Tahuhu, who added 54 runs for the ninth wicket partnership. It did frustrate the hosts, taking their side past the 250 mark, but not quite enough for series parity.

Brief scores: New Zealand 253 all out in 49.5 overs (Melie Kerr 88, Maddy Green 43, Hannah Rowe 40; Nonkululeko Mlaba 3-41, Nadine de Klerk 3-44) lost to South Africa 257/3 in 45.2 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 124*, Sune Luus 53, Marizanne Kapp 45*; LEa Tahuhu 2-40 ) by 7 wickets

1st ODI, September 24

A fine all-round show from Nadine de Klerk (2-34 and 58*) and a typically aggressive knock from Chloe Tryon (71) helped South Africa to register a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first match of the three-game ODI series in Potchefstroom on Sunday (September 24). The duo put on a 124-run stand which came after the hosts had been reeling at 111/5 at one stage in the run chase. With the scores level, Tryon went for the glory hit to be dismissed but the job had been done.

Earlier on, New Zealand had a similar recovery job in their innings after being 55/5 at one stage. The new ball did just a bit and South Africa's seamers were on the money, notably Masabata Klaas, de Klerk and Marizanne Kapp. The tourists found themselves under the pump and it required a fabulous 127-run stand between Brooke Halliday and Hannah Rowe to resurrect the innings. With the surface easing out, the two gradually opened up in terms of strokeplay after a watchful start to the partnership.

Halliday in particular was severe on anything remotely loose while her partner played second fiddle with aplomb. Klaas returned to break the stand by cleaning up Rowe but Halliday batted deep into the innings and found another ideal foil in Isabelle Gaze who produced a cameo of her own. Jess Kerr then came to produce a few lusty blows at the back end to give the tourists a good finish to the innings. From 55/5 to 235 was a brilliant rearguard although the score was still under-par on a pitch that was getting better to bat on.

Kerr and Rowe carried their momentum into the bowling innings with fierce new-ball spells to put the Proteas under siege. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt chipped away at one end but her dismissal after getting to fifty put the home side in a hole of sorts. With a rather long tail to follow, the responsibility was massive on de Klerk and Kapp. The former, much like Kerr and Rowe, had her own momentum from the bowling innings, and it spread into her batting as well. She had been in good touch in the recent tour of Pakistan and the confidence showed.

It also helped that Tryon was at the other end striking the ball cleanly from the get-go. The aggressive batter, who was absent for the Pakistan series, looked in control throughout and her aggression allowed de Klerk to bat without the pressure of the asking rate. New Zealand tried different things but on an easing surface against two in-form batters, the White Ferns found it difficult to stop the run flow and before they knew it, the game was virtually over. The next game of the series will be held on Thursday (September 28) in Pietermaritzburg.

Brief scores: New Zealand 235/8 in 50 overs (Brooke Halliday 76, Hannah Rowe 52; Masabata Klaas 3-60) lost to South Africa 236/6 in 47.1 overs (Chloe Tryon 71, Nadine de Klerk 58*; Hannah Rowe 2-26) by four wickets