Skipper Laura Wolvaardt leads the way as South Africa seals a comfortable series victory over New Zealand. The South African women’s team is currently involved in a limited-overs home series against New Zealand, which consists of a three-match ODI series followed by a five-match T20I series. The series commenced on 24th September 2023.
The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to field first. The visitors, New Zealand, were restricted to 235/8 in their quota of overs, courtesy of a clinical performance from the pacers. Chasing a target of 236, the home side were in deep trouble at 111/5, losing their skipper Laura Wolvaardt for a well-made 75-ball 50. completing her 30th half-century in the ODI format.
Chloe Tryon joined Nadine de Klerk at the crease and the duo almost saw their side over the line in the run chase with a 124-run partnership for the sixth wicket to script an impressive, memorable victory in the first ODI. The 23-year-old all-rounder Nadine de Klerk was awarded the Player of the Match for her impressive all-round performance in the match, scoring 58 runs with the bat and picking up two wickets with the ball.
The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to field first in the second ODI. The South African openers got off to a steady start after being inserted to bat first, scoring over three runs per over. Masabata Klaas provided the first breakthrough for South Africa by dismissing the opening batter Suzie Bates to break the 49-run opening partnership.
The New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine joined Amelia Kerr at the crease and the duo stitched a 17-run partnership for the second wicket before Masabata Klaas came back for her 5th over of her spell to pick up a massive wicket, dismissing the White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine.
Maddy Green joined Amelia Kerr at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 92-run partnership for the third wicket to bring New Zealand in a strong position to push for a 300+ total. However, they suffered a collapse as they lost their next five wickets for just 41 runs and as a result, found themselves at 199/8, Lea Tahuhu joined Hannah Rowe at the crease with more than eight overs to spare. The duo stitched a crucial 54-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take the New Zealand total past the 250-run mark. They were eventually bundled out on the penultimate ball of the innings with a total of 253 runs on the board.
🚨 CENTURY!!! 🚨
A fabulous match-winning ton for Laura Wolvaardt against New Zealand and South Africa seals the ODI series 2-0. #CricketTwitter #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/atqSdbIrfd
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 28, 2023
Nonkululeko Mlaba (3/41) and Nadine de Klerk (3/44) were the top performers with the ball for South Africa. The 22-year-old batter Amelia Kerr has been having a good time at the top of the order, ever since she was promoted to open the innings in the first ODI. She scored 88 runs at a strike rate of 80, and was the top performer with the bat for New Zealand, falling just 12 runs short of her well-deserved century.
Chasing a target of 254, the South African openers got off to a solid start, scoring almost six runs per over. Just when the duo was building on the opening stand, the opening batter Tazmin Brits lost her wicket as she chipped one in the air straight back to Lea Tahuhu and she completed a good return catch to provide the first breakthrough for New Zealand.
Lara Goodall joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease and the duo failed to take the momentum provided by the opening batters, forward, as Hannah Rowe dismissed Lara Goodall to provide the second breakthrough for the White Ferns. Former skipper Sune Luus joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 98-run partnership for the third wicket to gain firm control of the run chase. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt completed her half-century off just 58 balls during the course of the partnership. Lea Tahuhu came back for her fourth over and picked up the wicket of Sune Luus to break the third-wicket partnership. She completed her 14th half-century off just 53 balls before getting dismissed.
Marizanne Kapp joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease and the duo saw the home side over the line with a massive 106-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt completed her fourth ODI century and stayed unbeaten on 124, scoring at a strike rate of 87.94. Marizanne Kapp stayed unbeaten on 45, scoring at a strike rate of 91.83.
2-0 SERIES WIN for 🇿🇦
Laura Wolvaardt's 124*, Sune Luus' Fifty ensure a comfortable 7-wicket win for Proteas. 👏#CricketTwitter #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/Ok8Yi9fI2J
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 28, 2023
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt (124 off 141 balls) was the top performer with the bat for South Africa. She also broke the record for scoring the most number of centuries for South Africa in ODIs en route to her match-winning knock going past former South African veteran Lizelle Lee (3). Lea Tahuhu (2/40) was the top performer with the ball for New Zealand. The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning knock (124 off 141 balls) playing a crucial role in helping South Africa seal the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.