New Zealand women 120 for 5 (Devine 61, Khaka 2-24) beat South Africa women 119 all out (Du Preez 40, Tahuhu 2-10) by five wickets
Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine were in outstanding form for New Zealand, securing the team a 2-0 lead over South Africa in the ongoing five-match T20I series. Having slumped to a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI leg of the contest, this five-wicket victory to follow the equally convincing one on Sunday must taste all the more sweeter.
It was set up by a bowling performance that allowed only three South African batters into double-digits. Tahuhu was crucial, her four overs going for only 10 runs while also yielding the wickets of the captain Dane van Niekerk for 25 and the big-hitting Chloe Tryon for a duck. Mignon du Preez provided the only resistance to New Zealand, hammering 40 runs off only 26 balls. South Africa slumped from 94 for 3 in the 14th over to 119 all out.
After a wobbly start to the chase – 27 for 2 – opener Devine took control with a rapid half-century – 61 off 43, with five sixes and three fours. Her efforts ensured New Zealand were in sight of victory by the 13th over and though a few more wickets fell after that, it was more of a footnote.