Devine, Jess Kerr power New Zealand to a series win with a game to spare

Dercksen also put on a powerful display for South Africa but it ended in vain

Alagappan Muthu

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 5:41 AM (6 hrs ago)

New Zealand 160 for 4 (Devine 64, Tryon 2-13) beat South Africa 159 for 6 (Dercksen 55*, Jess Kerr 3-16) by six wickets

Sophie Devine just keeps getting better and even the cricket Gods are fangirling over her. She could've been out on 0. She ended that over with a six. She could've been out on 25. She hit the next ball for six. The powers that be just wouldn't let this game be deprived of her power at the crease.

In the 17th over, when Devine cleared the outfield and the last of her 10 boundaries landed straight in the stands, even she had to take a moment to admire her handiwork. Playing her 150th T20I, one of the game's all-time greats struck her 10th fifty-plus score in 19 innings against South Africa. Her 64 off 34 balls took all the jeopardy out of a chase of 160 and sealed the series for the White Ferns.

Devine power

New Zealand pulled off their second highest chase in women's T20I history with nine balls to spare. Their success was built on being better at exploiting the conditions, which did become better for run-scoring in the second innings but there was always the threat of the ball not coming onto the bat.

Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer actually set themselves up for that. They remembered to hold their shape for that millisecond longer. They were happy to make their own pace, running at the bowlers, even if the ball was short. They produced sequences of four successive boundaries followed by three successive boundaries during a partnership of 48 off 34. Plimmer's on drives were special too, never over-hit, all timing. Her wicket, however, ushered Devine to the crease and she showcased her smarts differently.

The 15th over of the chase began with New Zealand needing 53 off 36 balls. Devine took guard well outside off stump because she had clocked the bowling plan - go wide - and wanted to reach those balls because if she could, she had the strength to clobber them all the way, which is exactly what happened when she flicked Masabata Klaas over deep square leg. Ordinarily that ball would've been in line with off stump but Devine had changed the game. By the end of those six balls, New Zealand's required rate had come down from 8.83 to 7.

The helplessness that South Africa felt trying to stop Devine was exemplified when Tazmin Brits was mic'd up and she started with a nervous laugh when asked whether their plans against Devine were working. She knew they weren't.

Dercksen a class above

After choosing to bat, South Africa were 60 for 3 after 10 overs. The previous four had produced just 19 runs and as many boundaries as wickets (2). Annerie Dercksen had no business playing the way she did given what had come before her. Her unbeaten 55 off 32 balls dragged a game that was safely in New Zealand's hand back in the balance.

Dercksen outscored the other end (strike rate of 172 vs 111), hitting nine of the 13 boundaries that came South Africa's way while she was in the middle, including a breathtaking straight six off Amelia Kerr. With New Zealand trying to tuck them up on the stumps, she profited by tapping the off side fence as well instead of just looking to drag balls to midwicket. The range of shots, the ability to execute them even on a slow pitch when under pressure and the acceleration towards the end marks her out as a long term No. 4. Considering she also bowls steady seam-ups, South Africa won't have to worry about life after Marizanne Kapp.

Dercksen struck her first ball for four - a cut shot that highlighted how well she picks length and how quickly her feet move. She had South Africa scoring 10 and 12 runs immediately after overs that produced just two, six, seven and four, and she was there at the death, scooping and reverse sweeping good balls for fours. The visitors bagged 51 runs in the last four overs to finish on a healthy 159 for 6.

Sister act

"Double, double, toil and trouble. Beware the Kerr sisters" said a sign in Wellington. The little girl holding it up had also included a line drawing of Amelia and Jess. It was so good and the real life versions lived up to that big billing.

Playing at home, Jess produced her best T20I performance, topping the wickets she took in 2024, her busiest year in the format with 10 games. She bowled 14 dot balls in her four-over spell and picked up 3 for 16, lifting herself to joint third on the list of highest wicket-takers in women's T20Is in 2026.

Jess was responsible for limiting the damage of big-hitter Chloe Tryon, whom South Africa promoted to open and give them a quicker start. Jess then came back to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt as well, who is part of the reason why they had to try something as out of the box as pushing their finisher up top. The South Africa captain has 88 runs in 95 balls in the series so far, and on Sunday she fell for 10 off 17.

Amelia used her knowledge of the ground she plays her domestic cricket on, slowing her pace to as far as 64 kph, which made it even harder for the ball to slide onto the bat. One of these deliveries - at 75 kph which was a full 5kph slower than her average speed in the last game - stumped Sune Luus on 30 off 29.

Tahuhu's landmark

The day began with celebrations in the New Zealand camp as Lea Tahuhu becoming the fifth White Fern to 100 T20Is. Her wife Amy Satterthwaite, who is a member of that highly exclusive club herself, was in attendance. So were her children, Grace and Louie who looked very cute wearing his mother's commemorative cap.

Alagappan Muthu is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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