New Zealand Women produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat South Africa Women by 66 runs in the 3rd ODI at Wellington on April 4, 2026, delivering an entertaining contest filled with shifting momentum, key partnerships, and impactful bowling spells. The match unfolded as a classic ODI narrative, early setbacks, middle-order resilience, late acceleration, and a spirited chase that ultimately fell short despite several fighting contributions.
New Zealand Women’s innings began under pressure as South Africa struck early with disciplined new-ball bowling. Suzie Bates struggled to find rhythm and was dismissed for 0 off 9 balls, caught by Chloe Tryon off Tumi Sekhukhune, leaving the hosts at 1/3 in just 1.6 overs. Georgia Plimmer soon followed for 1 (8), bowled by Ayanda Hlubi, and captain Amelia Kerr departed for a duck after edging a delivery from Sekhukhune to Anneke Bosch. At 3/3 inside four overs, South Africa Women appeared firmly in control, with Sekhukhune and Hlubi exploiting movement and pressure brilliantly.
The match turned dramatically through a defining partnership between Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday, which reshaped the innings and the match flow entirely. Green anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 141 from 128 balls, striking 15 boundaries and maintaining a strike rate above 110.
Halliday complemented her perfectly, scoring a composed 98 from 124 deliveries with 13 fours. Their fourth-wicket partnership added 211 runs, stabilizing New Zealand after the collapse and gradually shifting momentum away from South Africa. The duo rotated strike intelligently before accelerating in the middle overs, punishing loose deliveries and tiring the bowlers.
After Halliday fell at 214/4 in the 40th over, caught by Sinalo Jafta off Nadine de Klerk, New Zealand entered the death overs with a strong platform. Isabella Gaze contributed a quick 7 off 6 before a run-out, while Izzy Sharp added 16 from 16 balls, including a six. Jess Kerr’s brisk 6 off 4 and Nensi Patel’s unbeaten 12 from 6 ensured late acceleration. Extras added 25 runs, pushing New Zealand Women to an imposing 306/7 in 50 overs at a run rate of 6.12.
South Africa’s bowling effort featured shared contributions despite the big total. Tumi Sekhukhune (2/57) and Ayanda Hlubi (2/47) made early breakthroughs, while Nadine de Klerk (1/55) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/70) chipped in with crucial wickets. Sune Luus was economical with 0/23 in six overs, and Chloe Tryon maintained pressure with controlled middle-over spells.
Chasing 307, South Africa Women began positively with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front. She compiled a fluent 69 off 68 balls, striking nine fours and forming steady partnerships that kept the chase alive. Tazmin Brits added 25 (41) before being trapped lbw by Rosemary Mair at 68/1. Wolvaardt then combined with Anneke Bosch briefly before falling at 145/2, caught after a well-paced innings that threatened to swing momentum.
Annerie Dercksen produced a fighting 47 from 52 balls, adding valuable runs through the middle overs alongside Sune Luus, who contributed 21 (31). However, regular wickets halted momentum, Bosch managed only 3, while wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta scored 12 before falling to Amelia Kerr. Chloe Tryon injected late hope with an aggressive 29 off 26 balls, but wickets continued to tumble as the required rate climbed steadily.
New Zealand’s bowling attack executed plans effectively. Rosemary Mair delivered the decisive spell, claiming 5 wickets for 50 runs in 9.1 overs, repeatedly breaking partnerships at crucial stages. Amelia Kerr supported strongly with 2/37, while Jess Kerr (1/45), Kayley Knight (1/48), and Nensi Patel (1/40) shared wickets to maintain pressure. Even Suzie Bates contributed economical overs despite going wicketless.
South Africa Women were eventually bowled out for 240 in 46.1 overs, with extras contributing 12 runs. The fall of wickets, from 68/1 to 240 all out, reflected New Zealand’s ability to strike just as partnerships began to build.
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