All-round New Zealand crush South Africa to cruise into Tri-Series final
A complete bowling performance from New Zealand Women, followed up by a brutal opening partnership between Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, saw the White Ferns cruise to an eight-wicket victory over South Africa Women and into the final of the Tri-Series, which also involves England.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat, and their innings was a peculiar beast. They owned the start and the finish, but a turgid period in the middle cost them. It was Lizelle Lee who got them off to a flier, as she has done throughout South Africa’s tour of England.
By her standards she played herself in, scoring just two from her first six balls before taking 23 from her next 11. Considering the form she has been in New Zealand would have been relieved and surprised at her dismissal. It soon brought another too, as Bates ran out Sune Luus at the non-striker’s end, another key wicket considering the unbeaten 63 she had made in South Africa’s sole victory of the Tri-Series.
That brought Dane van Niekerk to the crease, and it was her partnership with Laura Wolvaardt which set South Africa back. The pair added 48 in nine overs, a rate of less than a run a ball in a series where sides have often scored at close to or above two runs a ball.
The White Ferns’ bowlers deserve credit for how they tied them down, as does their captain Bates for how she utilised her bowlers. Eight New Zealanders in total turned their arms over, meaning no batsman could take stock and target a particular bowler. The van Niekerk-Wolvaardt partnership contained just a single boundary, and it felt a blessing in disguise when teenage leg-spin sensation Amelia Kerr removed both in the space of three balls.
Their caution meant Chloe Tryon was forced to play catch up, a role she is as good at as anyone in the world – she has five of South Africa’s quickest 25-plus scores in the format, and today smashed 35 off 15 to push her side towards a competitive total. Her partnership with Mignon du Preez was worth 52 in 4.3 overs, more than Wolvaardt and van Niekerk managed in exactly double the time.
The Proteas’ 148/6 felt at the halfway stage like at least something to bowl at. Instead, Bates and Devine made it look minuscule, adding 130 in a little over 13 overs.
There was power on show, but also intelligence, as evidenced by how they took stock after the initial Powerplay. Having taken 61 off the first six overs, there were no boundaries in the seventh or the eighth, before a pair of Devine sixes from consecutive Raisibe Ntozakhe balls kicked New Zealand into top gear again.
Particularly severe punishment was reserved for Masabata Klaas, whose two overs cost 29, including 11 wides, her line becoming wayward in the face of the assault.
Bates was caught behind having made 62, while Katey Martin was dismissed not long after as New Zealand suffered a slight blip in sight of their goal, before consecutive Devine fours confirmed White Ferns’ dominance.
