The White Ferns have sealed a Twenty20 series victory over South Africa with a game to spare, courtesy of another Sophie Devine batting masterclass in Wellington.
After the 36-year-old inspired a six-wicket victory over the Proteas at Eden Park two days ago, the White Ferns great played the winning handat Hnry Stadium, as New Zealand took an unassailable 3-1 series lead, with six wickets and nine balls to spare.
New Zealand had been set an imposing 160 for victory, after South Africa posted 159-6 from their 20 overs, only for Devine to give another example of why she’s one of the most feared batters in the game.
Sophie Devine against South Africa in Wellington. Photo / Photosport
In her 150th T20 International, Devine hammered six fours and four sixes in her innings of 64, on her Wellington home ground, registering her 23rd half-century in the format to complete the White Ferns’ highest run chase on home soil.
Devine’s innings came after an inspired spell from Jess Kerr, who claimed a career-best 3-16 from her four overs to keep South Africa’s top order at bay.
The White Ferns can seal a 4-1 series victory on Wednesday, as both teams and their male counterparts head to Christchurch for the final game of the Kiwi summer.
After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first for the third game in a row, New Zealand’s attack was superbly led by Kerr. The 28-year-old dismissed three of South Africa’s top five, including captain Laura Wolvaardt for a pedestrian 10 from 17 deliveries when she was caught at cover.
The final 10 overs were a different story, though, as the rest of New Zealand’s attack came under the pump from South Africa’s middle and lower order.
From 60-3 at halfway, a maiden T20 half-century to Annerie Dercksen in just 30 deliveries saw the Proteas add 99 runs from the innings’ last 60 balls.
Dercksen’s 55 not out came in partnerships of 44 off 25 balls with Nadine de Klerk (20) and 26 in 13 with finisher Kayla Reyneke (13 off 8). Those stands saw the White Ferns set 160 for victory – 10 more than they were tasked with at Eden Park two days earlier.
Needing exactly eight an over, Izzy Gaze couldn’t capitalise on being dropped early when she was out for six, while opening partner Georgia Plimmer added a brisk 29 from 22 before she was out stumped off the bowling of Chloe Tryon.
Coming together at 57-2, the pair of Amelia Kerr and Devine were given lives on 22 and 0 respectively in successive balls from Reyneke, as New Zealand reached the halfway mark at 70-2.
On 25, Devine was dropped again, this time at mid-off by a diving Reyneke, and rubbed salt in the wound with six over midwicket, only to lose Kerr for 31 at the other end one ball later, and end the partnership for 46.
Needing 53 runs from the final 36 balls, Devine and Brooke Halliday (16 not out) took the attack to Masabata Klaas, hitting 18 from a single over, and took the required rate to seven.
Jess Kerr and Suzie Bates celebrate a White Ferns wicket against South Africa. Photo / Photosport
Having taken 35 deliveries to reach 50 at Eden Park, it took Devine just 27 to repeat the dose in Wellington, as a sweep off Nonkululeko Mlaba saw the bat raised with five boundaries and three sixes.
With the equation at less than a run a ball, Devine hit the biggest six of the day when she sent de Klerk over midwicket, as the White Ferns hammered the final nail into the Proteas’ coffin.
The only blemish came in the 18th over, when Devine was caught at long-off off the bowling of Mlaba. But with 11 needed from 17 balls, Maddy Green (nine not out) and Halliday were unchallenged in getting the job done.
South Africa 159-6 (Dercksen 55 not out; J Kerr 3-16)
