In what was a stunning display of cricket masterclass, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine blasted the White Ferns to a sensational 8-wicket victory over hosts Proteas Women at Willowmoore Park, in Benoni.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first in wonderful spring afternoon. Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Britz opened the batting for the home team and the duo wasted no time in getting runs on the board. Unfortunately, Britz was caught by Georgia Plimmer off the bowling of Jess Kerr for 11 (12), bringing Anneke Bosch to the crease.
Wolvaardt and Bosch put on a comfortable batting display of runs as they kept the score board ticking and reached a 59-run partnership before Bosch had her wickets displaced by the bowling of Molly Penfold for 32(24) with four fours.
South Africa Set Up the Target
Wolvaardt scored steadily and confidently as she reached her ninth T20 career half century before she was dismissed off the very next ball for 53 (44) with an incredible eight fours.
Big-hitter Chloe Tryon and Suné Luus went on to score a fiery 52-run partnership. Tryon showed why she known for being a big hitter, as she was unbeaten on 22*(10) with two fours and one six. Luus played a classy innings, smashing seven fours before she was dismissed for 45 off the last ball off the innings, as the Proteas posted 172/4.
New Zealand opening duo of Suzie Bates and Kate Anderson got the run chase going before Bates dismissed for 9 (11) with two fours. Amelia Kerr joined Anderson at the crease but Anderson was dismissed just ten balls later for 25 (19) with four fours.
The Winning Devine and Kerr Partnership
Sophie Devine was in next and that was the start of the end for the Proteas Team. Kerr and Devine steadily ticked away at the runs, as they batted their way to a 130-run partnership. The fielding for the home side was not up to par as they paid dearly for the miss fields on the day.
Kerr reached her half century of just thirty-five deliveries, while Devine was not one to be left out of the party as she reached her half century of just thirty-one deliveries.
The turning point came in the seventeenth over, when Devine unleashed three consecutive sixes into the crowed as the over went for twenty-one runs, and set up the last three overs nicely.
Tryon held down the fort in the eighteenth over, but the match-winning moment came in the nineteenth over when Kerr cleanly struck the ball for three fours, and helped New Zealand seal an 8-wicket victory.
Kerr was unbeaten on 70* (46) with nine fours and Devine finished off unbeaten on 61*(37) with five fours and three sixes.
Speaking at the post-match press-conference, Suné Luus felt the team started off well and that they put on a competitive score, but missed out in the middle.
“We also need to take away from what New Zealand did better today and try and do better
Proteas Women Batter, Suné Luus
“Benoni is a hard wicket to defend on, but Laura set us up well in the beginning and Chloe did what she does best at the end.”
When asked about Laura’s innings, Luus continued: “Laura’s is just doing things right and she is doing it well, and it works for her.”
On the host team’s bowling effort, the former SA skipper said: “There was some brilliant overs here and there. We did not bowl enough slower balls. Just going back now, New Zealand bowled well and executed their plan.”
Talking about the tour’s final match Sunday, “We are always going to be pushing. The game is moving forward and we will be looking to put on more runs on the board.”
The final match will be played tomorrow, Sunday 15 October at Willowmoore Park, Benoni and will start at 14h00 SAST. Tickets can be purchased from TicketPros.co.za from R40.
Proteas Women Squad vs New Zealand:
Laura Wolvaardt (captain)
Anneke Bosch
Tazmin Brits
Nadine de Klerk
Mieke de Ridder
Lara Goodall
Sinalo Jafta
Marizanne Kapp
Ayabonga Khaka
Masabata Klaas
Suné Luus
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Tumi Sekhukhune
Nondumiso Shangase
Chloe Tryon
Delmi Tucker
Proteas Women vs New Zealand T20 Fixtures and Results
Fri 6 October: 1st T20 – Proteas Women vs New Zealand Woman – Match Abandoned
Sun 8 October: 2nd T20 – Proteas Women vs New Zealand Woman – Match Abandoned
Tue 10 October: 3rd T20 – Proteas Women vs New Zealand Woman – Match Abandoned
Sat 14 October: 4th T20 – New Zealand Woman win by 8 wickets
Sun 15 October (14h00): 5th T20 – Proteas Women vs New Zealand Woman (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Photo Caption: Laura Wolvaardt (53) top-scored in setting the chase in the Proteas Women’s 172 off 20 overs. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine were New Zealand’s mainstays in reaching the target for an 8-wicket win, ahead of Sunday’s final match in Benoni. Photo: Cricket SA on X
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