NZ-W vs SA-W, 2nd T20I: All-round South Africa strangle New Zealand to level series
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women, 2nd T20I (Source: X/@ProteasWomenCSA)
Published - 17 Mar 2026, 09:27 AM• Read time - 5 mins
Match Overview
New Zealand Women and South Africa Women locked horns in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday, March 17. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat first.
The openers - Sune Luus and Tazmin Brits - proved their skipper's decision right as the duo took the team to a healthy 49 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. However, the Kiwi captain Amelia Kerr struck in the following over to break the 62-run partnership by sending back Luus for 31(21). Wolvaardt joined Brits and the South Africans carried on with the same momentum as the stand started to look ominous.
It was the New Zealand skipper who broke the prospering partnership once again, this time dismissing the other opener Brits who was out soon after completing her 15th T20I fifty. The home team clawed their way back into the game in the next few overs as the middle order was out cheaply. Just when it looked the South Africans had lost their way which might cost them dearly, out came Kayla Reneke who played a blinder of a cameo to help her team to a highly competitive 177/5 in their 20 overs.
New Zealand began their chase in earnest as the top order went at around 10 runs an over in the powerplay. Despite being 63/2, the home team looked on course. However, two quick, and big, wickets of Kerr and Sophie Devine around the seven-over mark pegged the team back in their pursuit. The next few overs did not go for many as the South African bowlers tightened the screws.
The chase was going off track with every over, however, Jess Kerr and Izzy Sharp revived it to give their team a chance. But it was not to be as smart bowling from the Proteas Women nullified their charge. In the end, the visitors won the game by 18 runs to level the series 1-1.
Top run-scorer of the match
|
Player |
Team |
Runs |
Balls |
Fours |
Sixes |
Strike Rate |
| Tazmin Brits |
SA-W |
53 |
43 |
5 |
3 |
123.25 |
Top wicket-taker of the match
|
Player |
Team |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
| Ayabonga Khaka |
SA-W |
4 |
0 |
27 |
4 |
6.75 |
Player of the Match
Kayla Reneke
After a robust first half, the South African innings was stuttering in the third quarter. Reneke came in when the scoreboard read 143/5 after 17.5 overs and played a rapid unbeaten innings of 28 off nine balls. Without the 20-year-old's booster shot, the Proteas Women would have ended up at a par score which might not have been enough.
Turning Point
Reneke's onslaught proved to be the difference between the sides in the end. It made a difference of at least 10-15 runs to the overall total which South Africa might have achieved and applied pressure on the chasers right from the beginning.
What the captains said
Winning Team Captain, Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W)
"Really nice to bounce back. Much, much better performance overall. Great batting intent and we hit our plans with the ball. (On Reyneke's hitting) Lovely. Lost our way after the start. Hard to come in, lovely to see Reyneke do that. Happy to know we have such power. Powerplay was not our best, but we pulled it back nicely. Nice to come back level. Lots of games to play, but very pleased with that performance."
Losing Team Captain, Amelia Kerr (NZ-W)
"If you can keep teams to 160 or under, but it was a really good wicket. 170 was a little under par. We lost key moments today. Pulled it back nicely with the ball. Some great finishing by SA. Through the middle, they bowled well. We did not quite rotate strike or find the boundaries we wanted to. Flip that around a bit and it is a different story. Great prep heading into the World Cup, and it just shows how small moments can win games. Unfortunate we were on the other side today."
