Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced the Proteas Women's inbound tour against New Zealand will feature three one-day internationals (ODI) and five T20 Internationals (T20I), to be played across five cities in South Africa from 24 September to 15 October 2023.
The ODI series holds immense importance as it forms a crucial part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25 qualification journey ahead of the next 50-over World Cup. South Africa will go head-to-head with the White Ferns in three encounters, scheduled to take place in Potchefstroom, Pietermaritzburg, and Durban on 24th, 28th September, and 1st October, respectively.
The third ODI, set to be held in Durban on Sunday, 1 October, will add additional significance with an all-black affair as the Proteas Women play in their third Black Day match to continue their fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality. Players from both teams will don black armbands and their respective black kits as a symbol of solidarity and support for the cause.
With the third Black Day game set to return to its first home of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, the first two instalments took place in 2021 against Pakistan and the West Indies in 2022, with South Africa emerging victorious on both occasions.
Shifting gears to the shorter format, Buffalo Park in East London and Benoni's Willowmoore Park take centre stage for the T20I series from 6-15 October. The battle between these two sides coincides with the preparation for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which will be held in Bangladesh 12 months later.
All matches will be broadcast on SuperSport, with tickets set to be available via www.cricket.co.za.
To kick off the tour, a New Zealand XI will take on a South Africa XI in a 50-over warm-up match at Willowmoore Park on 21 September as the visitors acclimatise to South African conditions.
The two nations have a history of competitive encounters, having faced off in various competitions and bilateral series. Notably, South Africa emerged triumphant during a white-ball tour in New Zealand in 2020, where they sealed a three-nil success in the ODIs before going down three-one in the T20Is. Furthermore, a captivating clash took place between them in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 in Aotearoa, with the Proteas clinching a win in the final over.
Overall, New Zealand holds a positive record against South Africa, winning 11 one-dayers out of 17 contests. In T20Is, the Proteas Women have secured only three victories out of 13 matches, with the White Ferns triumphing in 10 encounters.
The last time these two teams met, the Proteas delivered an impressive performance, restricting New Zealand to 67 all out, securing a resounding 65-run victory. This achievement marked the second-lowest total scored against the Proteas Women in their T20I history, as they advanced to their maiden finals appearance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023.
CSA Chief Executive, Pholetsi Moseki commented: “We are thrilled to welcome New Zealand for this highly anticipated tour, and we extend our warmest wishes to both teams. We eagerly look forward to witnessing some exhilarating cricket and wish them the best of luck.
"The ODI series, featuring the third chapter of Black Day, holds great importance for our team as they compete in the ICC Women's Championship, aiming to secure crucial points for qualification in the next 50-over World Cup. It is an opportunity for our exceptional Proteas Women to once again showcase their skills, determination, and commitment to the game on home soil. We have full confidence that they will make the nation proud with their outstanding performances.
Highlighting the importance of the Black Day initiative, Moseki added, "The Black Day initiative exemplifies the devotion of CSA and the Proteas Women's team in using the platform of cricket to address vital social issues. The inclusion of the Black Day ODI adds a meaningful dimension to the series, shining a light on the transformative power of sports in advocating for positive change in society."
Looking ahead to the T20I series, Moseki expressed excitement, stating: "The upcoming T20I series aligns with the countdown to the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, presenting an excellent opportunity for our team to fine-tune their strategies and build on their previous successes as they prepare for the global tournament. We anticipate thrilling encounters between two highly competitive teams and expect cricket fans to be treated to unforgettable moments." he concluded.
Fixtures - South Africa inbound tour v New Zealand 2023/24
Warm-up match:
Thursday, 21 September 2023 @ 10am - South Africa XI v New Zealand XI (WIllowmoore Park, Benoni)
ODI Series - ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25:
Sunday, 24 September 2023 @ 10am SAST - 1st ODI - South Africa v New Zealand (JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom)
Thursday, 28 September 2023 @ 09.30am SAST - 2nd ODI - South Africa v New Zealand (AET Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg)
Sunday, 1 October 2023 @ 09.30am SAST - 3rd ODI - Black Day - South Africa v New Zealand (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban)
T20I Series:
Friday, 6 October 2023 @ 6pm SAST - 1st T20I - South Africa v New Zealand (Buffalo Park, East London)
Sunday, 8 October 2023 @ 2pmSAST - 2nd T20I - South Africa v New Zealand (Buffalo Park, East London)
Tuesday, 10 October 2023 @ 6pm SAST - 3rd T20I - South Africa v New Zealand (Buffalo Park, East London)
Saturday, 14 October 2023 @ 2pm - 4th T20I - South Africa v New Zealand (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Sunday, 15 October 2023 @ 2pm - 5th T20I - South Africa v New Zealand (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)