Proteas Women end New Zealand series with 92-run defeat in Christchurch

Amelia Kerr was the star of the show, scoring 105 and taking 2/6 to help the hosts to a 4-1 series win over the Proteas Women.

The hosts batted first and Kerr was at the crease in just the second over after Ayabonga Khaka trapped Isabella Gaze in front for one. And Khaka would have had two in two if she had held onto Kerr's lofted stroke the very next ball.

New Zealand rebuilt, but Tumi Sekhukhune's double low set them back. First, she got rid of Georgia Plimmer (27), who holed out at deep midwicket, then Sophie Devine poked her first ball back to Sekhukhune.

At 59/3 in the ninth over, the Proteas Women were still in the contest. However, Kerr and Brooke Halliday took the game away from the visitors. They combined for 73 off 45 before Halliday fell to Khaka, but that didn't deter Kerr. The right-hander powered to her half-century in 34 balls, then kept on accelerating, getting to her second T20I century courtesy of three consecutive fours as New Zealand Women posted 194/6.

In response, the chase never got off the ground. Chloe Tryon chopped on Lea Tahuhu in the second over while Sune Luus (13), captain Laura Wolvaardt (9) and Anneke Bosch (9) all fell cheaply, reducing them to 40/4.

The powerful Nadine de Klerk was arguably the Proteas Women's last chance at an unlikely chase, but Kerr swapped bat for ball to clip the top of de Klerk's leg stump, leaving SA wavering at 57/5.

With wickets tumbling, the Proteas Women's only takeaway was that they managed to grind out the 20 overs, with the final pair of Khaka and Sekhukhune finishing unbeaten at the death.  

READ MORE: Proteas coach Shukri Conrad insists series in New Zealand an 'invaluable exercise'