White Ferns In Africa: All Level 1-1, Let The Fun Continue
Morning Morna!
After winning the first ODI against South Africa, the White Ferns suffered defeat in the second despite hitting 222 runs first up. Runs flowed in this ODI and despite some impressive performances from a few Ferns, SA ensured that this series is going to offer many twists and turns with a fantastic effort in chasing 223 runs with 5 balls to spare.
The Ferns got off to a great start, with the big-three at the top of the order doing what they couldn't do in the first ODI. Suzie Bates hit 66 off 84 balls and Rachel Priest was run out for 31 off 49 balls as the two openers shared a 68-run partnership, before Amy Satterthwaite chimed in on the act with 47 from 66 balls and along with Bates she took the Ferns to 140.
In the first ODI, it was Sam Curtis and Erin Bermingham who salvaged the innings down the order but with a hot start from the big-three, the rest of the Ferns failed to kick on and make major contributions. Bermingham was out injured for this game and was replaced by 21-year-old seamer Thamsyn Newton. Natalie Dodd hit 21 off 28, while Curtis managed 19 off 30 to push the Ferns up over 200, finishing 222/8 off their 50 overs.
Without Bermingham's spin, the Ferns opted for more seam but it didn't quite work out as planed with Morna Nielsen taking 5 of the 6 wickets to fall. Nielsen was dominant with 5/39 off her 10 overs, going at 3.90rpo while Satterthwaite was also impressive as she only conceded 24 runs off her 10 overs.
Holly Huddleston was the other wicket-taker with 1/46 off 8.1 overs, yet she conceded 5.63rpo with Bates conceding 5.87rpo off 8 overs, Lea Tahuhu conceding 4.25rpo off 8 overs while Newton went for 6.40rp off 5 overs. Mignon de Preez hit 80 off 112 balls to lead SA to victory with support from opener Lizelle Lee who hit 42 off 42, with Marizanne Kapp taking 3/41 off 9 overs.
Satterthwaite and Curtis are the two kiwi batswomen to score runs across both games with Satterthwaite backing her 19 runs in the first game up with 47 in the second, while Curtis has chipped in with 22 and 19. With the ball, Nielsen's 5-wicket-haul has her leading our bowlers and on the back of conceding just 0.90rpo in the first ODI, Nielsen is proving to be a legit threat for the Ferns. Satterthwaite has 4 wickets and Tahuhu is on 3.
Fantastic Fernies for the second ODI have to be Bates who top-scored with the bat and Nielsen. Nielsen's 5 wickets gives her the edge over Bates, so shout out to her.
The Ferns dished up a much better batting performance in the second ODI, which is pleasing although they need to find a way to pose a greater threat with their seam bowling if they are to get ahead of SA. The third ODI is tomorrow, so we'll see ya on Friday.