A career-best unbeaten century from Maddy Green and a maiden five-wicket haul from Rosemary Mair powered the White Ferns to a tense 66-run win over South Africa today, sealing a come-from-behind ODI series victory to close their home summer.
Green struck 141 off 128 balls – her third ODI century– to rescue New Zealand after a disastrous start that left them reeling at 3-3.
She combined with Brooke Halliday in a record 211-run fourth-wicket partnership, the highest in White Ferns history, lifting the hosts to a competitive 306-7 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
South Africa’s chase was well poised before it unravelled dramatically, the visitors losing their last nine wickets for 95 runs to be dismissed for 240.
Mair was key in the collapse with a maiden five-wicket haul of 5-50, as New Zealand surged back to clinch the series after dropping the opener.
Speaking to TVNZ after the match, Green said the knock was one of the best in her White Ferns career.
“I thought it was just about trying to build a partnership and see if we could lay a platform to get to a competitive total,” Green said.
“It was great to have Brooke out there in the middle with me. She was incredibly calm throughout and I enjoyed batting with her and I thought she was exceptional.
“I think [it’s] probably up there with one of my best innings for the White Ferns ... To get a series win against a really good South African side is really pleasing.”
Along with being named Player of the Match, Green also received the Player of the Series award, having also top-scored for New Zealand in the opening match with 85.
There was plenty to play for, given how tight the opening two matches of the series had been.
But the decider began in disastrous fashion for the White Ferns. After being sent in to bat, Suzie Bates (0), Georgia Plimmer (1) and Amelia Kerr (0) all fell inside the opening three overs, leaving the hosts staggering at 3-3.
Green came to the crease alongside Brooke Halliday, and the pair combined for a record partnership that surpassed the previous mark of 172, set by Amy Satterthwaite and Amelia Kerr.
Halliday fell just short of a second ODI century in the 40th over, departing for 98 from 124 balls.
Green anchored the innings through to the end, bringing up her century in the 42nd over with a boundary.
In the final over, Green struggled badly with cramps and there was a brief delay as medical staff attended to her, but New Zealand eventually reached 306-7.
