New Zealand completed the highest successful run chase in women’s one-day international history off the back of captain Melie Kerr’s stunning 179 not out from 139 balls.
The White Ferns completed a pursuit of 347 with two deliveries remaining against South Africa at Basin Reserve in Wellington, with Kerr hitting 23 fours and a six, including the winning boundary, as her side triumphed by two wickets.
New Zealand’s chase eclipsed the 339 India had achieved in last year’s Women’s World Cup semi-final against Australia in Mumbai.
Kerr had amassed 232 not out against Ireland in 2018, becoming only the second woman, after Australian legend Belinda Clark, to score an ODI double hundred.
But she ranks her knock versus South Africa as her best, saying: “It’s No 1. To get a big hundred like that in a big chase against a quality side is definitely No 1.
“I was really calm out there. I was so focused on simplifying it to each over and where we needed to be to get the job done.
“When I did hit the winning runs, I was actually pretty fizzed. It shows how much it means to me. I’m a pretty relaxed character with celebrations and all that stuff. But that was special.”
Kerr – who will play for the Oval-based MI London in The Hundred this summer – had also scored a century in the final T20 international against South Africa as her team took that series 4-1.
New Zealand’s ODI series versus the Proteas concludes on Saturday, also in Wellington, with the sides currently tied at 1-1 after two games.
