South Africa responded to their crushing defeat by England with an impressive six-wicket victory over New Zealand at the World Cup in Indore.
Having been skittled for 69 and beaten by 10 wickets in their tournament opener on Friday, the Proteas dismissed New Zealand for 241 and cruised to their target in 40.5 overs in a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Tazmin Brits, one of the 10 South Africa players to make a single-figure score last week, hit a brilliant 101 – her fourth one-day international century in five innings and fifth this year.
Brits was bowled two balls after reaching her century with 47 runs needed, and Marizanne Kapp and Anneke Bosch also departed chasing a net run-rate boost, but Sune Luus, who put on 159 for the second wicket with Brits, finished 81 not out to seal a commanding victory.
New Zealand, in contrast, were lacklustre, with bat, ball and in the field.
After choosing to bat rather than inserting South Africa on the back of their England collapse, they chewed by 48 dot balls in a timid powerplay.
Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday upped the ante with a partnership of 86 from 75 balls through the middle but the dismissal of Halliday in the 39th over sparked a collapse of seven wickets for 44 runs in 59 balls from 187-3 as left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba took 4-40.
Devine was bowled for 85 in the 45th over, ending hope of a big finish, while her side later gifted 19 wides and leaked runs with misfields.
It leaves New Zealand, last year’s T20 World Cup champions, off the pace set by Australia, India and England early in this competition, with only the top four progressing from the group stage.
South Africa look the far more likely contenders.
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