The Black Caps series against South Africa went down to the wire with the fifth match in Christchurch, where the South Africans put on a display of batting, reaching a total of 187. Not an impossible task, but they were able to contain the New Zealand batters. Wickets fell regularly and no-one was able to get a real total going. Eventually they achieved 154 in response. South Africa won the match by 33 runs, and the series 3-2.
But that’s not what we want to see! The White Ferns had already wrapped up their series 3-1 in Wellington, and performed another demolition, setting a total of 194 and then bowling the South Africans out for 109, a 92 run margin of victory, to give a 4-1 series score.
They then moved onto the longer 50 over format a few days later, again in Christchurch, where South Africa exacted their revenge. The White Ferns batted first, and set, by their standards, a modest total of 268 for their opponents to hit. They made a good start with a wicket in the first over, and both openers out for 30, but South Africa then put on 122 runs for the third wicket. The Ferns never managed to slow them down, and despite losing wickets regularly, they had a relatively easy path, until the pre-penultimate over: needing 24 off the last three overs, they scored just two, and lost a wicket. Suddenly, the equation is 22 from 2 overs. They scored 8 in the 49th over, leaving 14 from the last over. A couple of singles and a six , then a couple of dot balls, left South Africa needing a six off the last ball. There was a long talk out in the middle between Suzie Bates and her captain, Melie Kerr. Unfortunately she bowled a sitter which Reyneke slogged for the required six. South Africa won, by two wickets, off the final ball.
On to Wellington for the final two matches of the series, and the South Africans have their tails up. It was an absolutely stunning day, with early cloud clearing to perfect blue skies all round. There was a nagging southerly breeze so it was a good job we were inside, in the Long Room.
This time, wickets didn’t fall. Although they lost their opener, Tazmin Brits, for 9, the second wicket partnership between opener and captain Laura Woolvardt and Anneke Bosch took them to 167/2, and even after that partnerships continued, with South Africa finally setting a total of 346/6. This was not helped by at least six – SIX! – chances going down. OK, some of them were hard chances, but in many cases the ball bounced out of the fingers. Coach Rory recommends some catching practice before the final match!
South Africa had set the White Ferns a mountain to climb: the biggest run chase in Women’s cricket. The previous most successful was India’s chasing down of 339 against Australia in 2025. A massive run rate of almost seven an over was required. The loss of Suzie Bates early put them at 21/1, and onto the pitch walks Melie Kerr.
What happened next was just…staggering. First, a 52 run partnership before Georgia Plimmer was out for 23, and then, having lost Green and Halliday for relatively low totals, put on a 120 run partnership with Izzy Gaze for the 5th wicket. Gaze was striking the ball well, making 68 off 49 balls. The total was now 250/5, with 12 overs remaining. Still quite a total to reach, at 8 runs per over. But this is Melie Kerr we’re talking about, and she continued to build partnerships – 40 with Izzy Sharp and 39 with sister Jess Kerr. They needed 18 runs off the last two overs. They took six from the 49th, and were left needing 12 off the final. Two fours off the first two balls brought it within reach – just three needed off the last four. A scampered two left the scores tied with three to go. No messing, Melie Kerr hit it for four, to win the match and level the series 1-1, with two balls in hand. Kerr finished on 179 not out, having scored over half the runs required herself.
After the match, the accolades flowed, as all the records
achieved were talked over. Amazingly, this isn’t even Melie Kerr’s highest
score in an ODI! She achieved 232 not out against minnows Ireland in 2018 – but
this is against one of the world’s top teams. It’s the highest successful run
chase in women’s cricket. Ever.
The next match, the decider, is again in Wellington, on Saturday. We’ll be going along, and expecting fireworks!
