Despite a huge total of 346, Laura Wolvaardt’s side couldn't stop a rampant Amelia Kerr from steering New Zealand to a historic win. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted her team “didn't really have answers" for her New Zealand counterpart Amelia Kerr in the White Ferns’ world-record run-chase in the second ODI at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday.
The Proteas’ posted a mammoth 346/6, courtesy of half-centuries from Anneke Bosch (91 off 90 balls), Wolvaardt (69 off 74 balls) and Chloe Tryon (52 not out off 25 balls), but could were stunned by Amelia Kerr’s magnificent unbeaten 179 off 139 balls that steered her team home with two balls to spare.
The Kiwis’ record-breaking effort eclipsed India’s 341/5 against Australia in last year’s World Cup as the highest successful chase in Women’s ODIs.
“We didn't really have answers for Kerr. She batted brilliantly. Sort of had answers to everything that we threw at her,” Wolvaardt said. “She really hurt us in the end and played a brilliant innings to win the game.”
The visitors appeared to take control of the game halfway through New Zealand’s run-chase with the home side on 130/4 in the 25th over. Young all-rounder Kayla Reyneke had struck twice with the ball, and the Proteas had the Kiwis under pressure.
But that’s when Amelia Kerr found an able and willing partner in wicket-keeper Isabella Gaze. The pair shared a 120-run partnership off just 82 balls that swung the momentum in favour of the White Ferns.
“That was probably the phase that hurt us the most. Not too sure what the stats are there, but I think they scored quite a lot of runs between probably 30 and 40. They were just really proactive,” Wolvaardt said.
“I think we missed probably one or two balls every over and those balls went for fours. There were very few overs that didn't have boundaries in them. So, I think that's definitely something we'll have to look at is just to find a way to just give them singles.
“I think at that stage they needed 8.5s, nines. So, if they take six singles, we're winning that phase. Every over just had that boundary ball leaking in there.
“I still think they batted well. Obviously, Kerr is very good against spin. She kind of hurt our spinners a bit in that phase.
"She was very proactive, used a lot of different options. But I think we could have been a bit tighter in that phase.”
New Zealand's victory has set up a series-decider in the third and final ODI in Wellington on Saturday.
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