Indore : Left-arm spinner Mlaba four wickets vs New Zealand helped South Africa bowl out the Kiwis for 231 in their Women’s World Cup clash at Holkar Stadium on Monday, despite a fighting 85 from Sophie Devine.
Opting to bat first, the Kiwis started poorly as they lost veteran opener Suzie Bates on a duck, that too on the first ball of the match in her 350th international game for New Zealand. Proteas pacer Marizanne Kapp trapped her in front of the wickets, putting the White Ferns under pressure. Bates registered her second consecutive duck in the tournament after failing to score against Australia at the same venue.
However, Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr staged a comeback with a 44-run crucial partnership for the second wicket. After the early setback, the duo took a cautious approach and guided the side to 38/1 by the end of the powerplay.
Nadine de Klerk ended the partnership in the 13th over by removing Amelia Kerr for 23. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine joined Plimmer in the middle, and the duo forged another vital stand as South Africa didn’t allow free scoring despite the end of the powerplay.
Devine and Plimmer added a 57-run stand for the third wicket, with Devine contributing more than half of the runs. Chloe Tryon claimed the third scalp for the Proteas as Plimmer gave a simple catch to Nadine de Klerk at long-on, reducing New Zealand to 101/3 after 25.4 overs.
Brooke Halliday’s arrival at the crease lifted the scoring rate for New Zealand, with Devine also supporting from the other end. Halliday played shots at will and scored boundaries at regular intervals.
Meanwhile, Devine completed her 17th ODI half-century and anchored one end as the Kiwis crossed the 150-run mark. Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the 86-run partnership by removing Halliday in the 39th over. Halliday contributed a quickfire 45 in 37 balls laced with six fours.
New Zealand then faltered, losing Maddy Green (4) and Isabella Gaze (10) quickly before Mlaba bowled out Devine for 85 in the 45th over, ending New Zealand’s innings decisively. Devine’s knock featured nine fours and came at a crucial juncture, while marking her 300th international game.
Mlaba finished with figures of 4-40 in her 10 overs as South Africa bundled out New Zealand for 231/10 in 47.5 overs.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 231/10 in 47.5 overs (Sophie Devine 85, Brooke Halliday 45; Nonkululeko Mlaba 4-40) against South Africa.
–IANS
