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NZ-W vs SA-W 2025/26, NZ-W vs SA-W fifth T20I Match Report, March 25, 2026

New Zealand 194 for six (A Kerr 105, Khaka 3-32, Sekhukhune 3-32) beat South Africa 102 for 9 (Dercksen 23, Tahuhu 3-15, A Kerr 2-6, Devine 2-8) by 92 runs

Amelia Kerr hit 105 and produced a miserly bowling spell of 3-0-6-2 to finish up outscoring South Africa and hand New Zealand a cushty 92-run victory in Christchurch. It was the New Zealand captain’s highest T20I rating with the bat, one which settled them after an early wobble, and sealed the T20I collection 4-1 within the hosts’ favour.

Amelia’s 55-ball innings produced 19 fours and a six on a day the place batting proved to be tough. From New Zealand’s facet, the second-highest batting contribution was Georgia Plimmer’s 27 whereas South Africa’s highest particular person rating was Annerie Dercksen’s 23. Amelia’s innings ensured New Zealand posted an imposing 194 for six, their fourth-highest team total.

The chase by no means fairly regarded on as 4 of South Africa’s top-six batters departed for single-digit scores. Lea Tahuhu produced the early breakthroughs after which Nensi Patel, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire and Amelia strangled the guests. South Africa went down tamely, scoring solely 102 for 9 of their 20 overs. It was their third-worst loss in T20Is (by runs).

Amelia lights up Christchurch

Walking in on the second-over mark, the day might’ve been vastly completely different for Amelia. Off her first ball, she provided Ayabonga Khaka a tough catching probability. After surviving the drop, she turned barely watchful, scoring solely six runs in her first ten balls.

But after the powerplay, Amelia freed her arms to take down Nadine de Klerk for boundaries over high quality leg and backward level within the seventh over, and recurrently discovered the rope over the following few overs. Her two slog sweeps off Sune Luus within the tenth over lifted New Zealand to 72 for 3 in ten overs.

From a sluggish begin, Kerr powered on to her half-century in 34 deliveries within the thirteenth over, and went on turbo mode thereafter. She lived dangerously via her edged cuts right down to deep third or her scoops previous the keeper’s left and loved one other reprieve within the seventeenth over when she was dropped off Tumi Sekhukhune’s bowling although it was later deemed a no-ball.

Amelia gave New Zealand a robust end by destroying de Klerk within the 18th over with a six over midwicket and back-to-back fours over mid-off and level. She then powered on to her second T20I century with a hat-trick of fours within the nineteenth, bowled by Masabata Klaas. Eventually, a miscued shot off Khaka within the twentieth over ended her innings. By then, although, New Zealand’s rating regarded imposing, and so they set South Africa 195 to win.

A strangle from NZ’s bowlers

It was a promising begin for South Africa, taking 9 runs off the primary over, however Chloe Tryon chipped Tahuhu to mid-off within the second over. The different opener Sune Luus then holed out to Patel’s offbreak. Tahuhu induced the forefront from Anneke Bosch’s bat whereas Laura Wolvaardt obtained a faint edge to the keeper making an attempt to drag Devine. When de Klerk was out to an Amelia googly, they have been tottering at 57 for five and the sport’s consequence appeared a foregone conclusion.

Dercksen did hit 4 fours in her 18-ball 23 however she struggled towards Amelia’s variations with the ball and finally miscued a slog to the deep. Karabo Meso then obtained a golden duck as Devine induced an inside-edge onto the stumps. Devonshire then dismissed Kayla Reynene with a mis-hit down the bottom and when Tahuhu picked off Klaas for the ninth wicket within the seventeenth over, it appeared South Africa can be rolled over quickly.

However, the tenth-wicket partnership of 13 between Khaka and Sekhukhune that lasted 3.2 overs ensured the guests weren’t all out, a really small comfort amid an enormous defeat.