NZ-W vs ZIM-W 2nd T20I: Amelia Kerr, Isabella Gaze guide New Zealand to series win

Match Overview

New Zealand and Zimbabwe faced off in the second women’s T20I of the three-match series at Hamilton's Seddon Park on February 27. New Zealand skipper Amelia Kerr won the toss and elected to bat first.

The hosts gained an unassailable 2-0 lead with a thumping 110-run victory in a one-sided clash, sealing the series at the earliest juncture.

Fresh after an all-round Player-of-the-Match show in the series opener, skipper Amelia Kerr picked up from where she left, smashing 82 off merely 52 with 13 fours and a six, while being involved in a record opening stand of 163 runs in 97 balls with Isabella Gaze, who stood unbeaten on 85 off 54 as New Zealand piled up 196 for 1 at the halfway stage.

It was a role reversal of sorts for Kerr and Gaze, as the former, who played the aggressor in their 159-run stand in the series opener, was content playing the second fiddle this time around. Gaze found the boundaries regularly as Kerr kept knocking around singles at the start of the innings.

Kerr accelerated from the halfway mark in the innings, picking four fours against Loryn Piri in the 10th over before a hat-trick of boundaries off Christabel Chatonzwa in the 14th, which was the highlight of the match. She eventually perished to Nyasha Gwanzura in the 17th over, which led to a slowdown as New Zealand managed only 33 off the last four overs with Izzy Sharp staying unbeaten 22 off 14.

Much like the first game, Zimbabwe never got going in the chase, with only Kelis Ndhlovu and captain Chiedza Dhururu managing to score in double-digits as the tourists were folded for a paltry 86, leaving nine balls unused.

Zimbabwe made a shaky start to the chase, losing Gwanzura on just the third ball of the chase to Jess Kerr before Rosemary Mair trapped Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano lbw in the next. However, it was the middle-overs in which they dealt the real damage, losing a wicket every over from No. 11 to 15.

New Zealand bowlers made hay as each one was amongst the wickets as Jess, Nensi Patel and Kayley Knight bagged two apiece, while Bree Illing, Amelia and Mair took one each. 

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Isabella Gaze

Gaze, who played the perfect foil to skipper Kerr in the first game, assumed the aggressor role in the second match, smacking 13 fours in her unbeaten 54-ball 85.