Cricket
New Zealand Women take ODI series against South Africa─── ILSE SMALBERGER 10:17 Sat, 04 Apr 2026
New Zealand has won the third and final ODI against South Africa to clinch the series 2-1.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. The Proteas Women must have thought it would be their day when the White Ferns collapsed to 3/3 after just four overs, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
However, Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday steadied the ship for the hosts with Green scoring an unbeaten 141 runs, hitting a career best off 128 balls. Despite cramping late in her innings, she still managed to claim a third ODI century. Halliday also made an impressive contribution of 98 runs.
The pair added 211 for the fourth wicket to propel New Zealand to 306/7 in their 50 overs. For South Africa, Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune both took two wickets each, while Nadine de Klerk and Nonkululeko Mlaba bagged a wicket each.
New Zealand won by 66 runs. Photo: X/White Ferns
The Proteas Women started well, with captain Laura Wolvaardt (69 off 69) and Tazmin Brits (25 off 41) compiling 68 runs for the opening wicket. Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen (47 off 52) then put on 77 more. The South Africans were at 148 before both fell, leaving South Africa at 148/3 in the 27th over.
But South Africa’s innings fell apart in the middle, with only Sune Luus (21 off 31) and Chloe Tryon (29 off 26) adding any runs of value.
New Zealand pace bowler Rosemay Mair wreaked havoc on the Proteas’ innings, claiming her first ODI five-wicket haul (5/50), including the final wicket of Ayanda Hlubi, with almost four overs remaining.
South Africa could muster only 240 runs, handing the hosts a commanding 66-run victory and sealing the series.
