New Zealand Women produced a clinical performance in Wellington to seal a dominant six-wicket win over South Africa Women in the fourth T20I and wrap up the five-match series. The match belonged Jess Kerrhis spectacular spell with the ball set the tone for the hosts and earned him the Man of the Match award.
Jess Kerr shines with the ball for New Zealand
After being put into bat, South Africa managed 159/6 – a competitive total on paper, but one that always felt a little low given the conditions. A big reason for this was Kerr’s exceptional ball control. He returned figures of 3/16 four times, consistently breaking partnerships and not allowing the visitors to build any real momentum.
Kerr made an early impact, trapping Chloe Tryon lbw before striking again to remove skipper Laura Wolvaardt. He then dismissed key wicketkeeper Tazmin Brits, who halted South Africa’s progress at a crucial stage. His disciplined line and length forced errors while keeping his strike rate in check throughout the innings.
well supported by Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devinewho is chipping in with the door in time. The New Zealand bowling unit worked as a unit, applying pressure from both ends and ensuring that South Africa never got a run.
Despite the setbacks, Annerie Derksen He stood tall for the visitors with an unbeaten 55 from 32 balls. Her aggressive approach helped South Africa recover from early losses with useful contributions from Nadine de Klerk and Kayla Reyneke towards the end. However, a lack of sustainable partnerships meant they couldn’t fully capitalize and always ended up with a bottom line that seemed a bit vulnerable.
Also READ: Alana King leads Australia to series win over West Indies in 2nd Women’s T20I
Sophie Devine leads the chase as New Zealand seal the series
Chasing 160, New Zealand approached the target with confidence and composure. Although they lost an early wicket at Isabella Gaze, there was never a sense of panic in the camp. Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr stabilized the innings, laying a solid foundation with a partnership that kept the scoreboard ticking.
Plimmer’s quick knock of 29 provided the early momentum, while Amelia Kerr’s knock of 31 kept the chase on track. But it was all-rounder Sophie Devine who really controlled the game.
Devi’s explosive 64 off 34 balls turned the contest decisively in New Zealand’s favour. Mixing power with accuracy, he attacked the bowlers with aplomb, finding boundaries at will and putting South Africa under immense pressure. His shots took the game away from the visitors and left little doubt about the outcome.
Even after Devine was fired in the later stages, the job was almost done. Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green quietly led the team home, Finished the chase with nine balls to spare and securing a comfortable victory.
New Zealand take a 3-1 lead in the 5-match T20I series over South Africa 🏏#NZvSA #cricket #T20I pic.twitter.com/FwUzCxJFIc
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) March 22, 2026
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
