Devine stars with the bat again as New Zealand seal T20I series

Sophie Devine blasted her second successive half-century as New Zealand secured yet another six-wicket victory at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday (March 22), taking an unassailable 3-1 lead against South Africa in the five-match series.

Chasing a target of 160, the hosts overhauled the total with nine balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, Annerie Dercksen led South Africa's charge with the bat, with an unbeaten 30-ball 55, after the visitors had opted to bat. Sune Luus, this time partnering with Chloe Tryon at the top, helped South Africa to a more steady start before getting stumped off Amelia Kerr in the ninth over. However, with Laura Wolvaardt falling soon in the next over, the visitors were left reeling at 58 for 3.

Dercksen then led the revival of South Africa's innings in the company of Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk and Kayla Reyneke, as they managed to ensure a surge in South Africa's scoring rate in the second half of the innings. Much of this surge came in the last four overs, with Dercksen launching Amelia over deep mid wicket, and slamming a couple of more boundaries in the 17th over where South Africa picked 17 runs. Suzie Bates and Rosemary Mair also suffered at the hands of Dercksen's late attack as South Africa posted a competitive 159 for 6.

In response, New Zealand were in little trouble throughout the chase despite losing Isabella Gaze early. Amelia Kerr provided the much-needed backbone to the chase with 46-run stands each with Georgia Plimmer and Devine for the second and third wickets respectively.

Devine made sure to build well on that from thereon and pressed the accelerator right away, taking down Masabata Klaas for 18 runs in the 15th over, and cracking a boundary off Nonkululeko Mlaba through backward square leg to bring up her half-century. Victory was well in sight for New Zealand from thereon, and even as Devine departed in the 18th over, the hosts were able to cross the target with nine balls to spare.

Brief Scores: South Africa 159/6 in 20 overs (Annerie Dercksen 55*, Sune Luus 30; Jess Kerr 3-16, Sophie Devine 1-27) lost to New Zealand 160/4 in 18.3 overs (Sophie Devine 64*, Amelia Kerr 31; Chloe Tryon 2-13) by six wickets