Brits’ Century Powers South Africa to Win Over New Zealand

Tazmin Brits scored her fifth ODI century of the year to lead her South Africa to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand. The win was the first ever victory of the Proteas in the ICC Women Cricket World Cup 2025.

Nonkululeko Mlaba took the ball lead and scored four wickets as the White Ferns fell to 231 all out. Sophie Devine became the only bright spot of the otherwise poor line up of New Zealand at 85.

Paperwork and Memorandums are rife

The game was filled with the milestones. Marizanne Kapp became the most-capped ODI player in South Africa history when she bowled Suzie Bates, becoming the 350th international in her career, a first-ball duck.

Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr were both New Zealand openers and began at a slow pace, although the strain soon caught up. Kerr was on the ground, 23, cut to a diving Sune Luus, and Plimmer was on the ground, 31, before she was trodden on the boundary by Nadine de Klerk.

Devine, who played her 300th game against New Zealand attempted to anchor the innings with Brooke Halliday. The duo scored 86 in the fourth wicket but Halliday was caught in the 45th position, after being trapped by Mlaba who made a high catch. Mlaba then delivered another blow and won two more wickets, one of them being Devine who was bowled out to 85.

The tail of the White Ferns disintegrated very fast with their remaining seven wickets contributing only 44 runs. South Africa had a goal of 232 and the collapse of New Zealand was brought out by run-outs and strict fielding by the Proteas.

Bats and Brits Shine with Luus

South Africa developed steadily in pursuit of 232, albeit captain Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed who scored 14. It was followed by Brits and Sune Luus who built a record 159-run partnership – the most South Africa had ever had in a world cup.

Brits scored her first World Cup century in ODI number 7 off 44 balls and proceeded to score her first world cup fifty. Luus also mentioned her 16 th ODI half-century, which ended unbeaten on 81 when the Proteas easily pursued the target in 40.5 overs.

Scorecard

New Zealand: 231 all out in 47.5 overs (Sophie Devine 85, Brooke Halliday 45) (Nonkululeko Mlaba 4/40, Chloe Tryon 1/24)
SA: 234/4 in 40.5 overs (Tazmin Brits 101, Sune Luus 81; Amelia Kerr 2/62, Lea Tahuhu 1/27)
Verdict: South Africa claimed the victory by six wickets.

Their performance in South Africa has been a dominant one and therefore, it gives them some momentum in the tournament, as New Zealand will be hoping to recover after a rough defeat.

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