New Zealand Women created history on Wednesday by completing the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India set the previous record in October last year chasing 339 against Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-finalbut the White Ferns have now surpassed that mark.
Amelia Kerr played an unbeaten 179 off 139 balls with 23 fours and a 6 as New Zealand chased down 347 with two balls to spare to win the second ODI by two wickets at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The win helped the White Ferns level the three-match series 1-1, with the decider to be played at the same venue on April 4.
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SENSATIONAL KERR TAKES NEW ZEALAND HOME
With their backs against the wall in the series, New Zealand needed 11 runs from the final to script history. Amelia Kerr who has recently become the number one all-rounder in women’s T20Isrose to the occasion by smashing three fours over Nadine de Klerk to seal a thrilling victory. Batting at No.3, Kerr claimed her fifth ODI set from 90 balls and remained unbeaten till the very end.
While wickets kept falling at regular intervals, Kerr found solid support in Isabelle Gaze who played a blistering knock of 68 off 48 balls. The pair added a crucial 120 runs for the fifth wicket after the White Ferns slipped to 130 for four in 24.3 overs, with the required run rate climbing to around 8.50.
Ayabonga Khaka was the outstanding bowler for South Africa, finishing with figures of 10-0-51-3, but her efforts were ultimately in vain. Masabata Klaas and Kayla Reyneke took two wickets each, though both proved costly, conceding runs at over 7.50 an over. Nadine de Klerk, meanwhile, endured a tough outing, escaping 79 runs at an economical rate of 9.11.
WOLVAARDT, BOSCH PROPEL SOUTH AFRICA
Earlier, after being put in to bat, the Proteas posted an impressive 346 for six. Tazmin Brits fell cheaply but skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch put South Africa in a commanding position with 132 runs for the second wicket. Wolvaardt scored 69 while Bosch narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century, succumbing to Kayley Knight’s 91.
Sune Luus and Sinalo Jafta kept the momentum going in the middle overs with knocks of 40 and 37 respectively, but it was Chloe Tryon who pushed South Africa closer to the 350-run mark. Tryon remained unbeaten on 52 off 25 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. Left-arm seamer Bree Illing was the outstanding bowler for the White Ferns, returning figures of 10-1-60-3.
Amelia Kerr endured a tough day with the ball conceding 67 runs without conceding a wicket. But once she walked out to bat, there was no stopping her as she took New Zealand home with an unbeaten knock.
A brief score
South African women: 346/6 in 50 overs. Anneke Bosch (91), Laura Wolvaardt (69), Chloe Tryon (52*); Bree Illing (3/60)
Women of New Zealand: 350/8 in 49.4 overs. Amelia Kerr (179*), Isabella Gaze (68); Ayabonga Khaka (3/51)
Result: New Zealand Women beat South Africa Women by 2 wickets (2 balls left)
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
1 April 2026 12:45 PM IST
