New Zealand comfortably beat South Africa by eight wickets in the fourth T20 International at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The White Ferns finished on 174 for two, with seven balls remaining. Earlier South Africa scored 172 for four after being sent in to bat by New Zealand captain Sophie Divine.
Kate Anderson and Suzie Bates opened the batting for the White Ferns while Nonkululeko Mlaba and Masabata Klaas handled the first few overs with the ball for South Africa.
After it initially looked like Anderson and Bates were building a solid foundation, the introduction of Tumi Sekhukhune into the bowling attack brought it to a screeching halt. Delmi Tucker took a comfortable catch to get rid of Bates for 9 (11b, 2x4) and New Zealand were 27 for one in the fourth over.
Anderson’s innings (25, 19b, 4x4) came to an end two overs later when Protea captain Laura Wolvaardt made sure to hang on to a delivery from Klaas. New Zealand were 39 for two.
At the halfway mark of the innings, the scoreboard read 68 for two, with Devine on 12 and Amelia Kerr on 19. That left a chase of 105 runs from 60 balls for victory. The 50-run partnership between the two came off 39 deliveries, laying a good foundation for the run chase.
Three consecutive sixes by Devine in the 17th over from the bowling of Sekhukhune not only brought up the 100-partnership with Kerr but also Devine’s 50 (31 balls, 5x4, 3x6).
In the end, Kerr (70, 46b, 9x4) and Devine (61, 37b, 5x4, 3x6) steered New Zealand to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.
Earlier South Africa’s innings got off on a nervy start when Wolvaardt didn’t properly get hold of a Hannah Row delivery in the third over, but the ball eventually sailed over the fielder’s head and went all the way to the boundary for four.
Tazmin Brits (11, 12b, 1x4) wasn’t as lucky in the fourth over when Georgia Plimmer took a comfortable catch from the bowling of Kerr. Anneke Bosch joined the South African captain and their 50-run partnership was up in the 10th over with the score on 74 for one.
Bosch was just finding her rhythm when a brilliant delivery by Molly Penfold took care of her leg stump. The South African had to walk back for 32 (24b, 4x4) and with the scoreboard on 83 for two.
Wolvaardt was on top of proceedings right from the start and her steady play throughout the innings led to her ninth T20 50 in the 16th over. She however had to depart the very next delivery when she tried to get on with it and was caught by Devine from the bowling of Rowe for 53 (44b, 8x4).
Tryon joined Suné Luus with the score on 120 for three and with 24 balls remaining. The two managed to add another 52 to take South Africa to a competitive 172 for four. Luus finished on 45 (30b, 7x4), dismissed off the last delivery of the innings. Tryon was not out on 22.
The last match in the series is tomorrow, also at Willowmoore Park.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon.
NEW ZEALAND: Sophie Devine (capt), Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr.