Maddy, Mair star as New Zealand clinch series in Wellington

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New Zealand clinched a series win after defeating South Africa in the third and final ODI, which also gave it crucial ICC Women’s Championship 2025-2029 points.

After securing a 66-run victory in Wellington, the White Ferns now sit atop the ICC Women’s Championship points table with 10 points from their six matches, whereas South Africa are at the third place with six points to their name.

South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. And soon enough Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune had the Kiwis on the mat, with the hosts at 3/3 within a space of 19 balls. This included the wicket of skipper Melie Kerr, the protagonist of White Ferns’ record win from the last ODI, who fell for a golden duck.

Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday then combined to rebuild the innings and boost New Zealand past 200 before the 40th over mark. Their 211-run stand is the highest fourth-wicket stand for New Zealand in Women’s ODIs, overtaking the 172-run partnership between Amy Satterthwaite and Melie.

Halliday fell agonisingly short of her hundred, being dismissed two short by Nadine de Klerk. But Maddy Green continued going for her shots, eventually returning back to the pavilion undismissed at 141 off 128 balls with 15 fours to her name. This was her highest-individual score in ODIs.

The Proteas chase was right on mark with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (69) and Annerie Dercksen (47) giving them a fabulous start. But fall of Wolvaardt to Kayley Knight and Dercksen to Rosemary Mair in the middle overs rattled the tourist innings.

The chase was never able to recover, even as Mair finished with a career-best haul of 5/50. This was also her maiden five-for in the format.

Speaking after the win, the Player of the Match award winner Maddy Green looked back at the importance of the series victory from the perspective of ICC Women's Cricket World Cup qualification.

"You know, these ICC championship games are so important. So, yeah, to take the series against South Africa 2-1, get those points on the board for World Cup qualification for us is super important,"

"And, yeah, South Africa are a really quality side. They've been in the last three finals of ICC events."

Earlier in the tour, they had also secured a 4-1 T20I series win against the Proteas earlier last month.

While the Women's Cricket World Cup is still a bit away, Green outlined the importance of these home fixtures for the White Ferns from a ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 perspective.

"To beat them in two series here back end of our summer is really pleasing. And, yeah, it's awesome for the group.

"Hopefully that gives us heaps of confidence going into T20 World Cup later on in the year. We're certainly seeing the momentum, you know, coming behind us in terms of the support for women's cricket."

Book your tickets for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026!