Amelia Kerr produced a stellar century to help New Zealand seal a two-wicket victory over the Proteas Women in a high-scoring second ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) One-Day International (ODI) at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday, 1 April, 2026.
The world record chase result levels the series 1-all, with the final title deciding match awaited on Saturday in Wellington.
Kerr, who was crowned Player of the Match, struck 23 fours and one six in an unbeaten 139-ball 179, alongside Isabella Gaze’s 68 off 48 balls (11 fours), as the hosts recorded the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI cricket, in reply to South Africa’s 346/6. Anneke Bosch (91 off 90 balls, 12 fours) and Laura Wolvaardt (69 off 74 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) were the standout contributors for the Proteas Women with the bat.
South Africa lost the toss and were put in to bat. The opening pair of Tazmin Brits (9) and Wolvaardt got off to a steady start, taking the visitors to 35/0 in the eighth over before Brits was caught behind off the bowling of Bree Illing (3/60).
That wicket brought Bosch to the crease, with the right-hander combining well with Wolvaardt for an important century stand. Both players brought up their respective half-centuries to guide the Proteas Women to 139/1 after 25 overs. The duo went on to add 132 runs for the second wicket before the partnership was broken when Wolvaardt skied a delivery from Illing, reducing the Proteas to 167/2 after 28 overs.
Bosch then teamed up with Suné Luus (40) in a 44-run stand to help the Proteas pass the 200-run mark. Luus, who was celebrating her 150th ODI cap in this match, departed nine runs before Bosch could reach her maiden hundred.
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Luus and Sinalo Jafta (37) added another valuable 34-run stand for the fourth wicket before the former was dismissed by Jess Kerr (1/71). Jafta then played the aggressor in a 40-run partnership with Chloé Tryon (52 not out) to take South Africa to 285/4 before she became Kayley Knight’s (2/65) second scalp of the afternoon.
Despite Nadine de Klerk (18) also departing off Illing’s bowling, Tryon raced to her 15th half-century off just 25 balls to help propel the Proteas Women to their third-highest total of 346/6 in 50 overs.
In response, New Zealand lost an early wicket in Suzie Bates (8), with Ayabonga Khaka (3/51) striking in the fifth over, before a partnership between Georgia Plimmer (23) and Amelia Kerr steadied the chase to take the White Ferns to 72/1 after 15 overs.
The 52-run stand was eventually broken by Kayla Reyneke (2/54), who dismissed Plimmer, before the 20-year-old trapped Maddy Green (13) lbw to reduce New Zealand to 101/3, with Kerr raising her bat for her half-century.
In attempting to increase the scoring rate, the home side lost their fourth wicket, with Luus (1/21) having Brooke Halliday (14) caught in the deep before Kerr and Gaze took control of the chase. The pair added a crucial century partnership for the fifth wicket to take New Zealand past the 200-run mark, with Kerr reaching her fifth ODI hundred and Gaze bringing up her half-century to push their side to 219/4 after 35 overs, still requiring 128 runs for victory.
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Kerr and Gaze added a further 31 runs before Gaze fell to Masabata Klaas (2/61). Despite the breakthrough, Kerr found support from Izzy Sharp (11) and Jess Kerr (14) to edge the home side closer to the target.
The New Zealand captain showcased her class to single-handedly take her team over the line, striking 14 runs in the final over to seal the victory and level the series 1-1 with one match remaining.
The third and final ODI takes place on Saturday, 4 April at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Results and Fixtures of the ICC Women’s Championship ODI Series from 29 March to 4 April 2026
Sun, 29 March: South Africa beat New Zealand by 2 wickets (Hagley Oval, Christchurch)
Wed 1 April: New Zealand beat South Africa by 2 wickets (Basin Reserve, Wellington)
Sat 4 April (00:00): New Zealand vs South Africa (Basin Reserve, Wellington)
Proteas Women’s ODI Squad Against New Zealand
Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans)
Anneke Bosch (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)
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: South Africa posted an impressive 346/6 after being invited to bat first, but an extraordinary unbeaten Amelia Kerr century anchored a world record chase for New Zealand to beat the Proteas Women by two wickets and to level the ICC Women’s Championship ODI Series 1-all at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday. Photo: Cricket SA
Photo 2 Caption: Playing XI Graphic (Graphic Cricket SA)
Photo 3 Caption: Match Result Graphic (Graphic New Zealand Cricket)
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