New Zealand Women clinch T20I series against Proteas with one game to spare

The hosts were in trouble early during the chase, and it could have been worse with three dropped catches by the visitors, but another superlative innings from Sophie Devine helped them chase down the 160 needed with nine balls to spare.

Proteas Women seamer Annerie Derksen struck in the third over, dismissing opener Isabella Gaze, who was dropped by Kayla Reyneke on the fifth ball of the innings.

Spinner Chloe Tryon and Ayanda Hlubi then turned the screws. When Georgia Plimmer was tumped for 26, New Zealand were 57/2 in the ninth over and the rate required was rising sharply.

But Devine and captain Amelia Kerr (31)  were once again brilliant together. They saw off Tryon and punished the wayward South African bowling attack. Devine, who was dropped on 0 by Tryon and 27 runs later by Reyneke, rode her luck all the way to the end, finishing unbeaten on 64 off 34 to seal the series.

Earlier, Tryon was promoted up the order to open and she blasted three fours before being trapped in front by Jess Kerr for 14.

The Kerr sisters continued their destruction with the dismissals of Sune Luus and Laura Volvaardt in the space of three balls, reducing the Proteas Women to 58/3 in the tenth.

The visitors were wavering, but Dercksen led the charge, blasting her way to a maiden T20I half-century. She finished not out on 55 off 32 and with support from Nadine de Klerk (20) and Keyneke (13). The Proteas Women bludgeoned 51 runs off the final four overs to get to 159/6, but it was not enough.  

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