The South Africa Women Vs New Zealand Women series is under way in New Zealand during March and April 2026, and New Zealand secured a commanding 80-run victory in the opening T20I at Bay Oval on March 15, 2026. Captain Amelia Kerr led the hosts with a match-winning 78 off 44 balls and was named Player of the Match.
Match One: Bay Oval — Hosts Dominate Opening T20I
New Zealand posted 190 for 7 after Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer put on a 146-run second-wicket partnership. Plimmer made 63 off 44 balls while Kerr reached her half-century in 28 deliveries and finished with 78, struck with 11 fours and two sixes. South Africa were restricted to 110 for 7 in reply, handing New Zealand an 80-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Amelia Kerr’s Milestone And Recent Form
With her 78 at Bay Oval, Amelia Kerr equalled Brendon McCullum’s tally for most consecutive fifties by a New Zealand batter in T20Is, joining him in joint second on that list. Kerr’s sequence of scores includes 66, 101, 82 and 78. The overall record for consecutive T20I fifties for New Zealand is held by Sophie Devine with six successive fifties between 2019 and 2020.
Kerr has carried strong all-round form into the home series. Earlier, in the T20I series against Zimbabwe she scored 183 runs at a high strike rate and recorded her maiden T20I century, while also claiming four wickets at an economy of 4. 25. In the subsequent ODI series she took 16 wickets, including a seven-wicket haul in the second ODI and a hat-trick in the third, and scored 140 runs at an average of 40. 67 with a top score of 80. In the Bay Oval opener she also bowled four tidy overs for 24 runs.
Tour Fixtures, Squads And How To Watch
The touring schedule comprises five T20Is followed by three ODIs, with matches hosted across Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The T20Is began at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on March 15, 2026, before the series moves on and the three ODIs are set for Christchurch and Wellington. The South African squad blends experienced campaigners with younger players and is captained by Laura Wolvaardt. New Zealand’s side is captained by Amelia Kerr.
T20I squads have been announced, and New Zealand management confirmed squad changes after the first two T20Is: Flora Devonshire and Lea Tahuhu will join the squad for the third, fourth and fifth T20Is. ODI squad selections have not been announced for either team. Live digital coverage and streaming access for the series are available on SonyLIV, with live scores and detailed match updates also accessible through FanCode.
New Zealand’s opening win sets the tone for a multi-venue contest through March and April 2026, with the T20 series still to be decided across the remaining four matches and the ODI segment to follow.
