An inspired performance with the ball and in the field saw the SA women add more misery to New Zealand’s T20 World Cup campaign with a brilliant 65-run win as they bowled the Kiwis out for 67, their lowest ever T20 World Cup score, in defending 132 at Boland Park, Paarl.
Needing to win after losing to Sri Lanka in their opening fixture, South Africa took to the field with character and determination, knowing a win and nothing else, would suffice.
Led by left-arm orthodox spinners Nonkululeko Mlaba, who bagged a T20 World Cup career best 3-10 in four overs, and Chloe Tryon (2-12) in three overs, South Africa took control from the start of New Zealand’s innings and never released their grip.
Opening the bowling, Mlaba struck with the second ball of the innings, having Bernadine Bezuidenhout stumped without scoring and bowling the dangerous Suzie Bates (0) with the first ball of her second over.
Georgia Plimmer (7) and Amelia Kerr (10) followed soon after as New Zealand were left reeling on 19/4 after the powerplay, the first time South Africa had taken four wickets in a powerplay in a World Cup match.
40 (34) and 2/12 ??
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 13, 2023
All-round brilliance from Chloe Tryon sees her win the @aramco Player of the Match award ??#SAvNZ | #T20WorldCUp | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/SPWCTuAAa9
Captain Sophie Devine (16) tried in vain to ignite a faltering effort but partnerships were hard to come by, 16 for the sixth wicket between Devine and Hayley Jensen (7) the best effort.
Maddy Green (7), Lea Tahuhu (1), Jess Kerr (11), Fran Jonas (1) and an undefeated four from Eden Carson told the story of what has been a nightmare start to the competition for New Zealand.
Marizanne Kapp took 2-13 in 2.1 overs, with speedster Shabnim Ismail (1-7) in three overs, including bowling her seventh maiden in World Cup T20 cricket, a record, and Ayabonga Khaka (1-9) in three overs also enjoying success.
This after the hosts posted 132/6 in their 20 overs on the back of Tryon’s 40 from 34 balls (6x4), Nadine de Klerk’s undefeated 28 from 26 balls (2x4) and an entertaining 22 from captain Sune Luus from 17 balls (4x4).
A massive win for South Africa ??
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 13, 2023
?? https://t.co/KJUcI3eknk#SAvNZ | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/NgCnhzLKLt
New Zealand’s bowlers were impressive, spinner Eden Carson the pick with 2-23 from four overs, supported by Tahuhu’s medium pace (2/27) in four and Jensen’s 1-13 from two overs.
Tryon’s all-round performance with bat and ball won her the Player of the Match award.
"It was do or die," all-rounder Tryon said after the match.
“We knew how important this game was,” said Tryon. “We had to go back to the basics. I thought we were 15 or 20 runs short so we had a job to do with the ball. Everyone did superbly tonight.”
New Zealand captain Devine said her team’s batting performance was simply not good enough.
“To be honest, it’s embarrassing,” said Devine. "We trained hard and put in all the work behind the scenes but to come out and perform like that for two games in a row is not good enough for international cricket.”
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus (c), Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
NEW ZEALAND: Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (c), Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas