The Proteas Women’s team crashed to another dismal defeat on their disappointing tour of New Zealand on Wednesday at the Hagley Oval.
The White Ferns once again dominated proceedings, with captain Amelia Kerr leading the way with a sublime 105 off 55 balls (19×4, 1×6), to power her team to 194/6.
The visitors’ batting woes continued as the Proteas slumped to 102/9, handing the Kiwis a comprehensive 92-run victory. It enabled the White Ferns to claim the series 4-1.
The few positives from the Christchurch outing were the performance of seam bowlers Ayabonga Khaka and Tumi Sekhukhune during New Zealand’s innings. Khaka held her nerve during the Kerr onslaught to claim 3/32 from her four overs, while Sekhukhune finished with the identical figures.
But it’s been the batting that has plagued the Proteas throughout the tour, especially with captain Laura Wolvaardt enduring a rare bad run.
Wolvaardt could not get out of the starting blocks again with the skipper managing just nine off 14 balls. The experiment to move down to No 3 has certainly not worked, and a return to her regular opening position for the home India series next month should be on the cards.
Equally, Chloe Tryon’s promoting up the order to open the batting has not reaped dividends and the Proteas may be better suited to a more regular batting line-up, especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup just five matches away now.
Coach Mandla Mashimbyi will at least have some time to ponder over it for the next week as the Proteas switch to a three-match ODI series against the White Ferns, starting at the Hagley Oval on Sunday.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand: 194/6 (A Kerr 105, Plimmer 27, Khaka 3/32, Sekhukhune 3/32)
South Africa: 102/9 (Dercksen 23, Tahuhu 3/15, A Kerr 2/6)
New Zealand won by 92 runs, win series 4-1
