New Zealand star breaks 44-year record with seven-wicket haul
Melie Kerr breaks Jackie Lord's record for the best figures in ODI cricket by a New Zealand women when collecting seven wickets against Zimbabwe.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr has broken a 44-year long record with a brilliant seven-wicket haul in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Dunedin on Sunday.
Kerr collected superb figures of 7/34 to help skittle Zimbabwe for just 102 at University Oval, breaking Jackie Lord's haul of 6/10 against India at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 1982 for the best bowling effort by a New Zealand women in ODIs.
103 required in Dunedin.
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 8, 2026
Melie Kerr claims the WHITE FERNS' best ever figures in an ODI with 7-34 🤩#NZvZIM pic.twitter.com/KYlnYOfhS1
It was just the seventh haul of seven wickets ever in Women's ODIs, with Kerr joining Pakistan's Sajjida Shah, England's Jo Chamberlain, West Indies' Anisa Mohammed and Australia trio Alana King, Ellyse Perry and current coach Shelley Nitschke in an exclusive group.
Best bowling figures - Women's ODIs
| PLAYER | FIGURES |
|---|---|
| Sajjida Shah (Pakistan) | 7/4 v Japan, 2003 |
| Jo Chamberlain (England) | 7/8 v Denmark, 1991 |
| Anisa Mohammed (West Indies) | 7/14 v Pakistan, 2011 |
| Alana King (Australia) | 7/18 v South Africa, 2025 |
| Ellyse Perry (Australia) | 7/22 v England, 2019 |
| Shelley Nitschke (Australia) | 7/24 v England, 2005 |
| Melie Kerr (New Zealand) | 7/34 v Zimbabwe, 2026 |
Molly Penfold (3/17) collected Zimbabwe's first three wickets to reduce the visitors to 48/3, with Kerr's introduction to the bowling crease only adding further disruption for the African team as New Zealand's captain continued to make inroads.
Kerr bowled Chiedza Dhururu to start the collapse, before she dismissed Modester Mupachikwa, Christabel Chatonzwa, Adel Zimunu, Nyasha Gwanzura, Audrey Mazvishaya and Tendai Makusha in relative quick succession to ensure the White Ferns remained on top.
