It’s yet another high-stakes match as South Africa take New Zealand at Hamilton. The Proteas are looking to extend their clean run, while the hosts are planning on throwing a spanner.

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Sophie Devine won the toss, and the White Ferns chose to put the runs on the board. However, SA were on the charge right from the word go, as Shabnim Ismail castled Suzie Bates in the third over. Despite the early setback, the in-form duo of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr dug in well and strung together an 81-run stand to set up another sturdy platform.

Kerr took longer to get set, but Devine continued to find the boundary. Both batters gradually accelerated against spin, but skipper Suné Luus finally created a breakthrough when Kerr was trapped in front.

Ayabonga Khaka returned to send back the experienced Amy Satterthwaite in the very next over, and the Proteas were wrestling control after a profitable passage of play for NZ.

Devine reached her half-century and had the very important task of batting through the majority of the innings. The pressure increased when Maddy Green was run out after a long struggle at the crease, but the captain remained unfazed.

With 10 overs to go, NZ were on course for a late blitz, but Khaka returned to dismiss Devine with an unplayable, searing leg-stump yorker. This would trigger a lower-middle order collapse, with Katey Martin and Brooke Halliday departing in the space of the next three overs.

Kapp struck on the very next delivery to dismiss Hannah Rowe, and the final two wickets fell in the next two overs, with the hosts folding for 228.

The pace trio of Ismail, Khaka, and Kapp successfully contained New Zealand at the death, preventing a total that could’ve been 30-40 runs more.

Much like the previous games for South Africa, the advantage has shifted between both sides more than once. And last game, SA successfully chased down 236.

This might be a slightly lower total, but will they be able to replicate the clinical performance against a clearly more potent bowling lineup? Or will the White Ferns bounce back and deliver? Tune in for the chase shortly.

NZ 228 in 47.5 overs (Devine 93 – Ismail 9-1-27-3, Khaka 8.5-1-31-3)