NZ-W vs SA-W 2025/26, NZ-W vs SA-W 2nd T20I Match Report, March 17, 2026

NZ-W vs SA-W 2025/26, NZ-W vs SA-W 2nd T20I Match Report, March 17, 2026


South Africa 177 for five (Brits 53, Wolvaardt 41, Luus 31, Reyneke 28*, Amelia Kerr 2-29, Jess Kerr 2-34) beat New Zealand 159 (Amelia Kerr 32, Khaka 4-27, Mlaba 3-27) by 18 runs

There had been different standout performers for South Africa too. Laura Wolvaardt struck an unbeaten 41 in 33 balls, Sune Luus produced a robust powerplay batting present, Kayla Reyneke‘s cameo got here at a strike charge of over 300 on the demise, and Nonkululeko Mlaba took a three-wicket haul.

But it wasn’t all South Africa by means of the day. Amelia Kerr‘s 2 for 29 and 18-ball 32 threatened to offer New Zealand the momentum in both innings, whereas a late scare from Izzy Sharp gave New Zealand hope of finishing a report T20I chase within the nation. Eventually, although, South Africa’s sharp catching and fielding ensured New Zealand could not sew collectively dominant partnerships for lengthy sufficient, and so they went down by 18 runs.

Brits and Luus break unfastened

Hamilton is thought for further swing with the brand new ball, however South Africa nonetheless opted to bat first. Brits and Luus did not time the ball completely initially however a mixture of an aggressive method and a few luck helped them take 14 off the primary two overs.

After that, Brits welcomed Suzie Bates to the assault within the third over with a six over deep midwicket, and because the swing died down, the batters acquired extra snug with their strokeplay. Brits additionally struck three fours off Bates in the identical over, and South Africa took 49 within the first six.

Amelia had an bizarre begin to her spell as effectively, with Brits thrashing her for 4 by means of long-on and a six over long-off within the seventh over, however the all-rounder acquired the primary breakthrough when Luus was trapped lbw for a 21-ball 31.

It was additionally Amelia’s one hundredth T20I wicket, coming in her 93rd T20I to make her the second-fastest girl to the double of 1000-plus runs and 100-plus wickets in T20Is (after Hong Kong’s Kary Chan).

Wolvaardt and Reyneke end strongly

While Brits took down Rosemary Mair and Bree Illing regardless of the Luus dismissal, Wolvaardt moved into the anchor’s position. South Africa reached three figures on the finish of the eleventh over however Brits’ dismissal to Amelia initially of the thirteenth over gave New Zealand a gap.

Jess Kerr dismissed Annerie Dercksen for two, Georgia Plimmer ran out Chloe Tryon cheaply and Bates at further cowl took a pointy catch to ship again Nadine de Klerk.

But a wayward end to the 18th over bowled by Jess – 5 no-balls and one other 4 off a free-hit – gave Reyneke some momentum initially of her innings and he or she ensured an ideal end. Sophie Devine, tasked with bowling the twentieth, conceded a hat-trick of sixes to Reyneke because the rookie completed with an unbeaten nine-ball 28. Wolvaardt was not out for a 33-ball 41, and New Zealand wanted 178 to win.

Reyneke, the 20-year-old, was adjudged the Player of the Match for his influence with the bat. Talking to the broadcaster afterwards, she mentioned, “It was pretty sick. Batting with Wolvaardt was a dream come true. Devine is not only a big name but also a big bowler. I just watched the ball and tried to clear the boundary.”

Khaka and Mlaba strangle New Zealand

No staff had chased 178 in a T20I in New Zealand earlier than, and it acquired much more tough for New Zealand when Dercksen dismissed Georgia Plimmer for 1 within the first over and Khaka despatched Isabella Gaze, the opposite opener, packing for six within the third.

Amelia, the No. 3, counterattacked to assist take 63 within the powerplay, however when she fell to Mlaba’s legbreak within the seventh over, she took the fizz out of the chase. Devine, the No. 4, was quickly bowled by a scramble-seam supply from Nadine de Klerk, and the wickets simply stored tumbling.

Khaka then added to her tally by eradicating Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green within the thirteenth over, whereas Mlaba eliminated Bates, batting at No. 8, for 1 and the opposite Kerr sister for 14.

A hat-trick of fours from Sharp within the seventeenth over gave New Zealand an outdoor likelihood as they introduced the equation all the way down to 29 off 12 balls. However, they ran out of wickets as Sharp was caught at cowl level in search of an enormous shot whereas Mair was run-out initially of the twentieth over.

Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx

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