New Zealand Women pulled off a remarkable comeback to clinch the ODI series against South Africa, overturning early disaster in the decider with a dominant all-round performance in Wellington. Powered by a record rescue act from Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday, followed by a match-winning spell from Rosemary Mair, the hosts secured a convincing 66-run victory.
The win completed a dramatic turnaround in the three-match series, with New Zealand bouncing back after a heartbreaking last-ball defeat in the opening game to ultimately take the series 2-1.
Asked to bat first, New Zealand suffered an early collapse that left them reeling at 3 for 3 within the first four overs. Senior players including Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer departed cheaply, while Amelia Kerr was dismissed without scoring, putting immense pressure on the middle order.
At that stage, South Africa appeared firmly in control, with Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune exploiting the conditions brilliantly to rattle the top order.
However, what followed was a partnership that completely transformed the game. Green and Halliday came together under immense pressure and stitched a monumental 211-run stand for the fourth wicket, one of New Zealand’s finest recoveries in ODI cricket. Green anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 141 off 128 deliveries, showcasing patience, control, and calculated aggression.
At the other end, Halliday played the perfect supporting role, scoring a fluent 98 from 124 balls, narrowly missing out on a deserved century. Their partnership not only rescued New Zealand from collapse but also shifted the momentum decisively. After Halliday’s dismissal in the 40th over, Green continued to accelerate, guiding the team to a formidable total of 306 for 7. Late contributions from the lower order ensured a strong finish, setting South Africa a challenging target of 307.
In response, South Africa began confidently, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front. She, along with Tazmin Brits, added 68 runs for the opening wicket, laying a solid foundation for the chase. Wolvaardt continued her fine form, scoring a composed 69, while Annerie Dercksen chipped in with 47, taking South Africa to a promising 148 for 3 after 27 overs. At that stage, the visitors were well within reach of the target, with the required run rate under control.
However, the lack of a substantial middle-order partnership proved costly. Despite a brief counterattack from Chloe Tryon, who scored a quick 29, South Africa struggled to maintain momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.
The turning point came through the brilliance of Rosemary Mair, who delivered a sensational bowling performance to dismantle the South African batting line-up. She finished with figures of 5 for 50, claiming crucial wickets at regular intervals.
Mair struck early by removing Brits and later returned to dismiss key batters including Dercksen, Tryon, and others, effectively derailing South Africa’s chase. Her disciplined line and ability to strike under pressure ensured that the visitors never regained control.
Support came from Amelia Kerr, who picked up two important wickets, tightening New Zealand’s grip on the match. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 240, falling 66 runs short of the target.
The victory capped an eventful series for New Zealand. After narrowly losing the first ODI, they bounced back in the second match thanks to Amelia Kerr’s extraordinary unbeaten 179, before delivering a clinical performance in the decider.
Maddy Green, who had also impressed earlier in the series, emerged as one of the standout performers, underlining her importance to the team’s batting unit.
This win will boost New Zealand’s confidence as they prepare for upcoming international assignments, while South Africa will reflect on missed opportunities, particularly in failing to capitalise on strong starts.
