Amelia Kerr made a memorable start to her tenure as full-time captain for the New Zealand women’s team as the White Ferns beat Zimbabwe by 92 runs in the opening match of the T20I series at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday 25 February.
Kerr recently took over the reins from Sophie Devine and wasted no time in impressing, earning the Player of the Match award. The 25-year-old previously led New Zealand in four internationals between 2023 and 2024 and showcased her experience with a commanding all-round performance.
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Kerr batted at No. 3 and lit up Hamilton with a sensational hundred off just 51 balls, the joint-fifth fastest century in women’s T20Is. She became only the third White Ferns batsman after Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine to reach a women’s T20I century.
AMELIA KERR SEPTEMBER IN HAMILTON
Kerr completely dominated with the bat on a day when New Zealand amassed a formidable total. She smashed an unbeaten 101 off 51 deliveries, studded with 19 fours, in a stunning strike total of nearly 198. Her brilliance saw New Zealand post a massive 202 for 1, with Isabella Gaze providing strong support through a stylish 66 off 50 balls.
Kerr’s impact went beyond her batting heroics. She produced a brilliant spell with the ball and returned figures of 4-0-14-2. Her disciplined lines and clever variations stifled Zimbabwe’s chase, restricting them to 110 for 4 and sealing a comprehensive victory for the White Ferns.
Kerr was one of New Zealand’s most consistent artists. She was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2024, winning the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the first New Zealander to claim the award.
She also won the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award after scoring 387 runs and taking 29 wickets in T20Is in 2024, and was the player of the tournament in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Apart from international cricket, Kerr excels globally. She is the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the Women’s Premier League with 54 goals in 36 matches and was part of Mumbai Indians’ winning campaigns in 2023 and 2025.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 25, 2026
