The New Zealand – South Africa T20I series has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far, leaving everything to play for as we head into the business end. New Zealand drew first blood with a massive 80-run win in Tauranga, thanks to a dominant display from Amelia Kerr. However, South Africa showed their grit in the second game at Hamilton; Tazmin Brits anchored the innings with a solid fifty before Kayla Reyneke’s late-over fireworks snatched the momentum back, allowing the Proteas to level the score. The third T20I in Auckland saw the White Ferns regain control, chasing down 150 with relative ease. Sophie Devine reminded everyone why she’s a legend of the game, smashing an unbeaten half-century to put the hosts 2-1 up and within touching distance of a series trophy.
Squads:
New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team
Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp
South Africa Women’s Cricket Team
Dane Van Niekerk, Chloe Tryon, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Laura Wolvaardt, Sinalo Jafta, Nadine De Klerk, Tazmin Brits, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Karabo Meso, Kayla Reyneke
Players to watch out:
Amelia Kerr
Amelia has been the heartbeat of the New Zealand side throughout this series, consistently delivering when the pressure is on. She set the tone in the opening T20I at Mount Maunganui with a masterful 78 off just 44 balls, and she’s currently sitting at the top of the run-scoring charts for the Ferns. Her ability to anchor the innings while maintaining a strike rate well over 170 has been the difference-maker, especially during her massive 146-run stand with Georgia Plimmer that effectively batted South Africa out of the first game.
Kayla Reyneke
Kayla has quickly become the breakout star for the Proteas on this tour, playing with a level of fearlessness. She played the finishing role to perfection in the second T20I, smashing an unbeaten 28 from just nine deliveries, including three consecutive sixes off Sophie Devine to swing the momentum back to South Africa. With 86 runs already under her belt in the series, she has proven to be a vital lower-order spark who can change the complexion of a game in a matter of minutes.
Sophie Devine
While Sophie is always a threat with the bat, her impact with the ball in this series has been a tactical masterclass for the White Ferns. She produced a career-best performance in the first match, tearing through the South African middle order to finish with clinical figures of 4 for 12. She scored a match-winning fifty in the most recent game. Her veteran experience has been evident in how she uses her variations to stifle the run rate, and she remains the most consistent wicket-taking threat for New Zealand during the powerplay and middle overs.
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Nonkululeko has spearheaded the South African spin attack with incredible discipline, making life difficult for the Kiwi batters on surfaces that haven’t always offered a lot of turn. She was instrumental in the Proteas’ series-levelling win at Hamilton, where her 3 for 27 included the massive wicket of Amelia Kerr just as she was looking to take the game away. Currently leading the wickets tally for her side with 6 scalps, her left-arm orthodox flight and accuracy have been key to South Africa’s ability to build pressure and trigger middle-order collapses.
Pitch:
The drop-in surface at Sky Stadium is historically balanced, though it tends to favor pace and bounce early in the innings. With an average first-innings score of approximately 153 runs in T20Is, it provides a competitive contest where batters can score freely once they adjust to the carry.
Weather:
The conditions in Wellington will be sunny with a high of 17°C and a low of 12°C. There is a 0% chance of rain during both the day and night, paired with a light 8 mph breeze coming from the north.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Izzy Sharp, Dane Van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Nonkululeko Mlaba
Match Details:
Date – March 22, 2026
Time – 7:15 AM IST
Venue – Sky Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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