South Africa Women 131 for 5 (Du Preez 44, Huddleston 2-13) beat New Zealand Women 130 (Martin 65, Klaas 3-32, Daniels 2-11, Kirsten 2-30) by five wickets
Scorecard
File photo – Mignon du Preez struck six fours during her 44 off 76 balls © ICC
Seamers Masabata Klaas, Moseline Daniels and Odine Kirsten took seven wickets between them to dismiss New Zealand Women for 130 and give South Africa Women their second win against the visitors in ODI cricket. Their first-ever victory had come in the second match of this seven-ODI series in Kimberley.
After opting to bowl in the 39-overs-a-side game because of rain, South Africa reduced New Zealand to 53 for 5 within 15 overs. It was Daniels who handed South Africa their first breakthrough when she had Rachel Priest caught by Kirsten for 3. Four balls later, the other opener, Suzie Bates fell for 3 too, to Ayabonga Khaka. Kirsten and Klaas then went on to slice through the batting line-up before Daniels returned to wrap up New Zealand’s innings within 34 overs. Katey Martin stood out amid the collapse with her second ODI fifty. She stayed unbeaten on 65 off 80 balls, including five fours. Amy Satterthwaite and Holly Huddleston were the only other New Zealand batsmen to reach double-figures.
Lea Tahuhu and Erin Bermingham then gave New Zealand a sliver of hope by removing South Africa’s openers in 9.5 overs. Former captain Mignon Du Preez, who made 44 off 76 balls, and her successor Dane van Niekerk, who scored an unbeaten 36 off 61 balls, however, helped South Africa regain the initiative. Du Preez and debutant wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta fell in the 37th over, but van Niekerk and Suné Luus finished the chase with eight balls and five wickets to spare.
New Zealand, though, had already sealed the series with a 95-run win in the fifth ODI at the same venue on Wednesday.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo