WELLINGTON – Maddy Green orchestrated a stunning rescue mission with a brilliant unbeaten century to carry the New Zealand White Ferns to a 66-run victory over South Africa in the third and decisive ODI at the Basin Reserve. The commanding win secured a 2-1 series victory for the hosts in what has been a fiercely contested series full of record breaking performances.
A Disastrous Start Before the Record Rescue
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt’s decision to bowl first under overcast skies paid immediate dividends. Opening bowlers Tumi Sekhukhune and Ayanda Hlubi ripped through the top order, exploiting early movement to reduce the White Ferns to a perilous 3/3 inside the first four overs. Stalwarts Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, and Amelia Kerr were all sent back to the pavilion early, leaving New Zealand staring down the barrel of an unrecoverable collapse.
However, Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday stepped up to orchestrate a monumental, game-saving 211-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The pair absorbed the immense early pressure, ticking the scoreboard over methodically before relentlessly accelerating in the final 20 overs. Green, bringing up her third ODI century, finished with an unbeaten 141 off 128 balls. She struck 15 boundaries and seemed utterly untroubled by the Proteas’ attack once settled. Halliday provided excellent support, agonizingly falling just two runs short of a maiden ODI century when she was caught behind off Nadine de Klerk for 98, helping propel New Zealand to a daunting 306/7.
The Chase: A Solid Foundation Giving Way to a Middle-Order Collapse
Chasing 307 for victory, South Africa established a brilliant foundation and looked entirely capable of pulling off the historic chase. After the early loss of Tazmin Brits (1-68), Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a brisk and elegant 69 from 68 deliveries. She was well-supported by Annerie Dercksen (47 off 52 balls), and by the 25th over, the Proteas were cruising comfortably at 145-1.
However, the game turned on its head in a devastating four-over spell. Wolvaardt’s dismissal at the end of the 26th over triggered a fatal momentum shift. The Proteas suddenly lost three crucial wickets for just nine runs, with Dercksen and Anneke Bosch following their captain back to the pavilion in quick succession to leave them reeling at 154-4.
The New Zealand attack, sensing blood, immediately tightened the screws. The sudden cluster of wickets completely suffocated the Proteas’ scoring rate, restricting them to just 33 runs over the next 10 overs (145-1 in the 25th to 178-5 in the 35th).
Mair Cleans Up the Tail
Rosemary Mair emerged as the destroyer-in-chief during this critical phase and into the death overs, ultimately claiming a phenomenal 5-wicket haul (5/50 in 9.1 overs). Her relentless lines, clever variations, and ability to strike at crucial intervals consistently derailed any hope of a lower-order South African revival. Amelia Kerr (2/37) chipped in with vital breakthroughs through the middle overs, ensuring the required run rate kept climbing out of reach.
As the pressure mounted, the tail was quickly exposed. Despite a fighting 29 from Chloe Tryon, the Proteas lost their final six wickets for just 48 runs, eventually being bowled out for 240 in the 47th over.
Series Honors
The victory served as a testament to New Zealand’s depth and resilience. Maddy Green rightfully earned both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors, proving that a calm head and calculated aggression can completely turn the tide of a match. For South Africa, the early bowling spells and the first half of their chase showed their deadly potential, but a catastrophic middle-over collapse ultimately cost them the series trophy.
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