White Ferns swept away by rampant South Africa
The White Ferns have suffered an embarrassing series whitewash by South Africa.
The visitors won the third one-day international women’s match against New Zealand in Hamilton yesterday by six wickets, to give them a 3-0 series victory.
With the Twenty20 World Cup looming for the White Ferns, South Africa’s dominance in the 50-overs format will have been a worrying performance for coach Bob Carter.
Needing just 150 for victory at
Seddon Park, South Africa reached their target with 12.4 overs to spare.
Legspinner Sune Luus ploughed through New Zealand’s middle and lower-order to take 6-45 off her 10 overs, despite being the sixth bowler visiting skipper Dane van Niekerk turned to.
New Zealand were dismissed for 149 in 38.1 overs, meaning Marizanne Kapp – South Africa’s destroyer in their victory in the second match – was required to bowl only four overs.
South Africa won the toss and put the hosts into bat and New Zealand looked to be close to rectifying things with their two star performers at the crease.
Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine had added 59 at a good clip for the third wicket until the new skipper fell for 24 off 37 balls. That sparked a steady fall of wickets, with Bates fifth out after reaching 51 from 57 deliveries, becoming the second of six victims for Luus’ legbreaks.
Amelia Kerr had a good spell of leg spin (1-31 off 10) for the hosts in South Africa’s reply but New Zealand didn’t have enough runs to defend.
Pace bowler Lea Tahuhu returns to the Ferns squad for the five-game ODI series between the two sides, starting in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, with the T20 World Cup starting for New Zealand with a match against Sri Lanka in Perth on February 22.