Kerr's 179 powers record chase as New Zealand level series

Amelia Kerr's unbeaten 179 off 139 balls lit up the Basin Reserve as New Zealand pulled off the highest successful run chase in women's ODIs and levelled the series against South Africa.

Chasing 348 in the second ODI, New Zealand lost Suzie Bates early in the fifth over, leaving Kerr to steady things with a 52-run stand with Georgia Plimmer in the tall chase. At 130/4 around the halfway stage, after the fall of Brooke Halliday, South Africa still had a grip on the game, but Kerr found the perfect partner in Isabella Gaze, who struck 68 off 48 and injected the momentum New Zealand needed.

Kerr's 120-run partnership with Gaze came off just 81 balls and shifted the game decisively, with the New Zealand captain getting to her fifth ODI ton off 90 balls and then accelerating. Kerr struck 23 fours and a six, playing the anchor and then the aggressor to keep up with the required run-rate even as wickets fell around her. It was fitting that she hit the winning boundary, sealing the result with a couple of balls to spare.

Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch added 132 for the second wicket to lay the platform for South Africa's 347. Tazmin Brits fell early, but the pair rebuilt steadily. Chloe Tryon then provided the late surge with an unbeaten 52 off 25 balls, pushing the total to what looked like a match-winning score.

Brief Scores: South Africa 346/6 (Anneke Bosch 91, Laura Wolvaardt 69, Chloe Tryon 52*; Bree Illing 3-60) lost to New Zealand 350/8 in 49.4 overs (Amelia Kerr 179*; Ayabonga Khaka 3-51) by two wickets