White Ferns captain Melie Kerr hits out against South Africa.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
South Africa have some some soul-searching to do, after the White Ferns cruised to a one-sided 80-run win in the opening T20 at Mt Maunganui.
Batting first at Bay Oval, New Zealand captain Melie Kerr and opener Georgia Plimmer piled on the runs in pursuit of a big score.
Kerr blasted 78 off 44 balls, with Plimmer scoring 63 in an impressive second-wicket partnership of 146 off 83 balls, after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
The White Ferns scored 190/7 in their 20 overs, after losing wickets late in their innings.
By contrast, South Africa’s top batters failed to put the runs on the board, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt caught off the bowling of Jess Kerr without scoring. Annerie Dercksen was run out for 7 and explosive all-rounder Chloe Tryon was caught on 9, off the bowling of Sophie Devine.
Devine was the top wicket-taker with figures of 4/12 off four overs.
The series heads to Hamilton on Tuesday for the second match of the five-game series.
Follow all the live action here:
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.