CHRISTCHURCH — A sublime, career-best century from opener Tazmin Brits propelled South Africa to a vital six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, a crucial response to their crushing 114-run defeat by England just days earlier.
Brits' magnificent 104 not out, her maiden ODI hundred, anchored a successful chase of 229 at Hagley Oval, steering her team home with 17 balls to spare. The win revitalizes South Africa's campaign, lifting them back into the top four of the tournament standings and providing a massive confidence boost after their batting lineup faltered dramatically against England.
The Proteas' captain, Laura Wolvaardt, was effusive in her praise for the match-winner, stating in the post-match presentation, "I'm so chuffed for Tazmin. She's been striking the ball so well in the nets and we all knew a big score was just around the corner. The way she paced that innings was absolutely perfect for us today."
A Redemptive Knock for Brits
For Tazmin Brits, this innings was particularly redemptive. Having managed scores of 12, 1, and 12 in her previous three World Cup outings, questions were beginning to surface about her place at the top of the order. She answered her critics with a masterclass in controlled aggression, blending powerful drives with clever placement to keep the scoreboard ticking over consistently.
Her partnership of 100 runs with captain Laura Wolvaardt (48) for the second wicket laid the foundation for the chase, effectively neutralizing the New Zealand bowling attack. After Wolvaardt's dismissal, Brits found another reliable partner in Marizanne Kapp (43*), with whom she shared an unbroken 96-run stand to seal the victory. Brits' relief and joy were palpable as she raised her bat to a standing ovation.
Reflecting on her performance, Brits shared, "It's an unbelievable feeling. I've been working so hard, and to finally contribute a big score for the team, especially after the last game, means everything. I just wanted to bat through and finish the game for the girls."
New Zealand's Innings: A Story of Starts
Earlier, after being put into bat, New Zealand's innings was characterized by players getting starts but failing to convert them into a match-defining total. The White Ferns posted 228 all out in 47.5 overs, a competitive but ultimately sub-par score on a good Hagley Oval batting track.
Key contributions came from the middle order, but no one could play the anchoring role that Brits later would for South Africa. The Proteas' bowling attack, led superbly by the experienced Marizanne Kapp, kept taking wickets at regular intervals to prevent any significant momentum from building.
New Zealand's Batting Highlights:
• Amelia Kerr: The all-rounder top-scored with a patient 52 off 77 balls, providing stability in the middle overs.
• Maddy Green: Played a fluent innings of 43 from 52 deliveries, showing positive intent.
• Brooke Halliday: Added a quickfire 34 from 36 balls towards the end to push the total past 220.
Despite these efforts, the inability to build a single century partnership meant New Zealand consistently had to rebuild, slowing their scoring rate and leaving runs out in the middle. The innings concluded with 13 balls unused, a critical factor in a tight contest.
Proteas' Bowling Unit Bounces Back
South Africa's bowling display was a marked improvement from their previous outing. They exhibited greater discipline and control, with Marizanne Kapp setting the tone early by removing both New Zealand openers, Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, inside the first 10 overs. Kapp finished with excellent figures of 2/34 from her 10 overs.
The spin duo of Nonkululeko Mlaba and Chloe Tryon provided crucial control through the middle overs, with Mlaba claiming the important wicket of Amelia Kerr. Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail, though expensive at times, chipped in with key wickets to ensure New Zealand never ran away with the game.
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine acknowledged the quality of the South African attack, saying, "We felt we were probably 20-30 runs short. We needed one of our batters to go on and get a big one, but full credit to the South African bowlers, they executed their plans well."
A Turning Point for South Africa?
This victory represents more than just two points for South Africa. The nature of the win—a confident chase led by a centurion—will do wonders for the team's belief. After the batting collapse against England, where they were bowled out for 156, proving they could chase down a target under pressure was paramount.
The return to form of Tazmin Brits adds a new dimension to their top order, and the composed finishing by Marizanne Kapp reinforces the team's depth. The victory keeps their semi-final hopes firmly in their own hands as they move into the business end of the tournament.
For New Zealand, the loss is a significant setback in their quest for a home World Cup semi-final berth. The pressure now mounts on the White Ferns, who must win their remaining matches to keep their dreams alive. Their inability to defend a total with their bowling attack will be a major concern for the coaching staff.
Conclusion: Brits Steals the Show
In a tournament where individual brilliance often defines outcomes, Tazmin Brits chose the perfect moment to deliver her finest performance. Her unbeaten century was a display of skill, temperament, and resilience, single-handedly shifting the momentum of the match and, potentially, South Africa's entire World Cup campaign.
The six-wicket triumph over New Zealand serves as a powerful statement that the Proteas are far from down and out. With their batting firepower rediscovered and their bowling unit clicking, they have proven they possess the character to bounce back from adversity and compete with the best in the world.
As Laura Wolvaardt succinctly put it, "This is the character we have in this team. We don't let one bad performance define us. We knew we had to be better today, and Tazmin showed everyone just how good we can be."