South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt aims to lead her team to a strong performance in the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, following a recent T20I series loss. The series, part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025/29 cycle, begins on Sunday at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where South Africa hopes to rebound from their 4-1 defeat in the T20I format. Wolvaardt emphasized the team's focus on improving their ODI form, noting their consistent performance in the 50-over format over the past few months. "We want to be a lot better in this ODI series," she said, reflecting on past successes, including their World Cup campaign. While acknowledging shortcomings in the T20I series, she expressed confidence in the team's preparedness for the ODIs. "The plans we have in place are pretty solid," she added, hoping for stronger execution. The series holds significant weight as part of the qualification process for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2029. South Africa currently sits in third place on the IWC table, having earned two wins and one loss against Pakistan. Wolvaardt highlighted the importance of securing points early to avoid last-minute qualification pressures. "Every game is super important," she said, noting the high stakes and the motivation to play their best cricket. New Zealand enters the series in strong form, having recently defeated both South Africa and Zimbabwe in 50-over formats. However, South Africa maintains a strong historical record against the White Ferns, with four wins in their last five ODIs. This includes a notable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 in India. Wolvaardt acknowledged New Zealand's preparedness but emphasized her team's intent to be more proactive.#new_zealand #south_africa #laura_wolvaardt #icc_womens_championship #icc_womens_cricket_world_cup
Melie Kerr’s record-breaking performance highlights her dominance as New Zealand’s captain in a decisive ODI series against Zimbabwe New Zealand’s newly appointed captain, Melie Kerr, delivered a standout performance in Dunedin, cementing her status as one of the most formidable players in women’s cricket. Her hat-trick and five-wicket haul in the third ODI of the series against Zimbabwe marked another milestone in her career, as she continued to break records and dominate both with the bat and ball. The White Ferns’ 200-run victory over Zimbabwe at the University Oval was a testament to Kerr’s leadership and all-round skill, securing a 3-0 sweep in the ICC Women’s Championship. Kerr’s contributions were pivotal throughout the series. She scored 80 runs in New Zealand’s total of 303/6, providing a solid foundation for the team’s aggressive approach. In the chase, she showcased her bowling prowess by dismissing Adel Zimunu, Audrey Mazvishaya, and Tendai Makusha in consecutive deliveries during the 24th over, securing the rare hat-trick. This achievement made her the third New Zealand woman to accomplish the feat and only the 14th woman in women’s ODI history to do so. Her hat-trick also marked the first for a New Zealand player since Emily Drumm’s historic performance against Australia in 1996. Kerr’s bowling figures for the series were equally impressive. She claimed a five-wicket haul in the third match, adding to her seven-wicket haul in the second game, making her the first New Zealand bowler to achieve three five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket. Her total of 16 wickets across the series, combined with 140 runs, earned her the Player of the Series award.#new_zealand #zimbabwe #white_ferns #melie_kerr #icc_womens_championship
