NZ-W vs SA-W: Amelia Kerr 179* headlines New Zealand's record chase to level series

Match Overview

Amelia Kerr stole the show with a record-shattering knock as New Zealand pulled off the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history to level the three-match series against South Africa in emphatic style at Basin Reserve on Wednesday, April 1.

Kerr’s breathtaking unbeaten 179 off 139 was laced with 23 fours and a solitary six, helping the hosts overhaul a mammoth 347-run target with two balls unspent. New Zealand’s chase began on a dull note as they lost Suzie Bates cheaply in the fifth over as Ayabonga Khaka cleaned her up.

Kerr and Georgia Plimmer were involved in a half-century partnership, but Plimmer fell to Kayla Reyneke in the 16th over. Reyneke struck again in the 22nd over, pinning Maddy Green lbw for 13 off 20 before Sune Luus got the better of Brooke Halliday to reduce New Zealand to 130 for 4.

The target seemed distant at that stage, but Kerr and Isabella Gaze had other plans as they turned the tide with a 120-run partnership off just 80 balls, with Gaze smacking 68 off 48 with eleven fours. Kerr notched up her fifth ODI century off 90 balls and ensured that South Africa only had one end to pick wickets from. Gaze fell to Masabata Klaas on the last ball of the 37th over, but the once-distant target was seemingly in reach at 250 for 5.

Kerr found the good company of Izzy Sharp, who rotated the strike and ensured the in-form batter had some support to rely on. Sharp became Khaka’s second wicket, but her boundaryless 11 off 17 was crucial in the context of the game after Gaze’s departure. Amelia’s sister Jess joined her in the middle after Sharp’s dismissal, and the duo added 39 in just 19 balls to bring New Zealand even closer. Jess became Klaas’s second wicket for 14 off 7, while Rosemary Mair walked back in the penultimate over before Kerr finished the chase alongside debutant Kayley Knight.

Earlier in the day, South Africa notched up what felt like a certain safe score at the halfway mark on the back of half-centuries from skipper Laura Wolvaardt (69 off 74), Anneke Bosch (91 off 90) and Chloe Tryon (unbeaten 52 off just 25).

Wolvaardt and Bosch’s 132-run alliance for the second wicket laid the foundation of their eventual total of 347, with Tryon’s quickfire half-century adding the finishing touches alongside some notable efforts of Sune Luus (40 off 43) and wicketkeeper-batter Sinalo Jafta (37 off 29). Bree Illing was the pick of the bowlers, returning three for 60 in 10 overs, while debutant Knight scalped two for 65 in her quota.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Amelia Kerr

Kerr rewrote record books with her knock for the ages. Her 139-ball 179* had a whopping 23 fours and a six. Kerr's superlative effort meant New Zealand recorded the highest chase in women's ODI history, surpassing India's 339 against Australia in the 2025 women's World Cup semi-final. Kerr also recorded the second-highest individual score in successful run-chases in women ODIs after Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu (195* vs SA, 2024).