South Africa 269 for 8 (Dercksen 72, Luus 53, Reyneke 42, Amelia Kerr 2-31) beat New Zealand 268 (Green 85, Gaze 37, Khaka 6-56) by two wickets
But as New Zealand continued to strike, South Africa had seemed to be heading for a narrow loss until Reneke’s nerveless maiden innings. She was rapid between the wickets as the visitors whittled down the requirement, and struck three fours to go with her two sixes to keep the target within reach.
With frontline seamer Bree Illing having been expensive, New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr went to Bates to close down the match. But one of the most experienced players in the women’s game was on Sunday bested by a 20-year-old upstart to send South Africa 1-0 up in the series.
Having been put into bat, New Zealand had begun strongly, their first hundred coming up inside 23 overs for the loss of just two wickets. But Khaka and Chloe Tryon found wickets through the middle overs, and prevented the hosts from turning a competitive score into a gargantuan one. Three of Khaka’s wickets came in the final over of the innings.
In response, South Africa endured an early wobble. When Illing removed Laura Wolvaardt in the sixth over, South Africa were 30 for 2. But then a 123-run partnership between Dercksen and Luus put the chase on track, and put the pressure back on New Zealand’s bowlers. Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr and Rosemary Mair all took two wickets apiece while Bates and Illing – New Zealand’s two most expensive bowlers in the end – claimed one each.
All five of Reyneke’s boundaries came in the arc between long-off and deep midwicket, the batter often going deep in her crease to create hittable lengths. She was especially impressive in the company of tailenders Khaka and Tumi Sekhukhune, turning down singles in the final over to stay on strike. Had wicketkeeper Isabelle Gaze held a difficult chance off Reyneke in the penultimate over, New Zealand may have shut this game down. But in the final moments, the debutant was not to be denied.
South Africa now go 1-0 up in a three-match series.
