Tazmin Brits headlines South Africa’s victory with fluent century as they cantered home with 6 wickets to spare.
South Africa got onto the points table while New Zealand slumped to their second straight loss in Indore.
This year is unlike any other for Tazmin Brits. Her fifth century in 2025, the most a woman has ever scored in a calendar year, stunned South Africa’s domination as they defeated New Zealand by six wickets to take the lead in the points table after they lost in Indore for the second time in a row.
South Africa demonstrated power and determination in chasing down 232 in 40.5 overs, four nights after being dismissed for the second-lowest score in World Cup history. This partially made up for their humiliating loss to England in Guwahati, which severely damaged their net run rate.
Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was largely responsible for South Africa having just thus many to chase after Sophie Devine and Brook Halliday threatened a jailbreak. Mlaba’s 4 for 40 set off an unsettling fall. After the pair had scored a quickfire 86 for the fourth-wicket, New Zealand were coasting at 187 for 3 in 38 overs when Mlaba struck huge dents.
After putting on a fantastic display of sweeps and reverse sweeps, contributing 45 off 37, Halliday was dismissed for one hit too many at the beginning of the 39th after top-edged a slog-sweep off Mlaba. She gave South Africa a brief chill during her visit, just like she did at the T20 World Cup final in Dubai last year.
After Georgia Plimmer laboured to hit the ball off the square in an agonising 31 off 68 balls, Devine assisted in changing the pace. Before changing tactics and capitalising on Halliday’s form and initiative, Devine was mainly measured, taking 66 deliveries to reach a half-century, her 17th in ODIs.
With just 41 deliveries needed to reach their half-century partnership, Halliday and Devine appeared poised for a breakthrough. Devine tried to work a full delivery into the leg side, but his expulsion for 85 had the opposite impact. After that, Ayabonga Khaka dominated the lower order, as New Zealand was bowled out for 231 after losing 7 for 44 with 13 deliveries remaining.
After Amelie Kerr was dismissed for 22 and Suzie Bates was dismissed for a second consecutive duck, New Zealand dug themselves into a hole by consuming 72 dots in the opening 15 overs, leaving the middle order with too much to do. After that, Devine and Halliday saved them, but New Zealand’s awful back 10 destroyed all of their hard work in the middle overs.
When Laura Wolvaardt, who ended New Zealand’s innings with a stunning shot, was out lbw playing across her front pad to Jess Kerr, they got the early wickets they needed to make a fist of the goal. However, that was the only happiness they would experience during the next two hours while the British put on an exhibition, with Sune Luus in attendance.
South Africa lost two more wickets in an effort to hammer down the runs, and the Brits were bowled shortly after reaching her century while trying to pull a skiddy length ball from Lea Tahuhu, leaving them momentarily unsteady. However, despite that, the outcome was inevitable.
With a lofted smash over extra cover, Luus scored the winning runs and finished undefeated at 81 to give South Africa a boost of confidence when they play the hosts and table-toppers India on Thursday in Vizag. The next day, when they fly to Guwahati to play Bangladesh, New Zealand will be hoping for a change of fortune.