NZ Women vs SA Women
🥝 1st T20I — NZ Won by 80 runs (Bay Oval)
🇿🇦 2nd T20I — SA Won by 18 runs (Hamilton)
🥝 3rd T20I — NZ Won (Auckland)
🥝 4th T20I — NZ Won by 6 wkts (Wellington)
vs SA (World Record)
T20I milestone (4th)
4th T20I POTM
(2nd T20I win)
The series is settled 3-1 in New Zealand’s favour — this 5th T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch is a dead rubber but both teams have plenty to play for. NZ want a 4-1 series win to finish on a high before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England & Wales (June-July 2026). SA desperately need a consolation win to avoid a demoralising 4-1 series whitewash and build confidence for their World Cup preparations.
SA captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted post-Match 4: “We thought it was a par total, very pleased with the score we got to, despite our start. Tough second half. When you give chances to batters like Devine, you are going to regret it.” Wolvaardt knows SA’s catching has been a significant issue throughout the series — dropped catches at critical moments have gifted NZ partnerships they should not have had. That must be fixed in Christchurch.
For NZ, this is an opportunity to give Flora Devonshire (who joined from the 3rd T20I) more game time and to continue building their World Cup squad depth. Hagley Oval in Christchurch is an iconic ground with conditions that often favour the team bowling first — South Island breezes and green-tinged surfaces assist seam movement early on.
Pitch: Hagley Oval is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful cricket venues, set against the Christchurch Botanic Gardens backdrop. The pitch here tends to offer more assistance for pace bowlers than Wellington’s Sky Stadium drop-in pitches — the natural surface can provide bounce and seam movement, particularly in the early overs. Average first innings T20I scores here are around 150-155.
Weather: Christchurch in late March — late summer/early autumn. Temperatures around 18°C. The famous Canterbury nor’wester wind can be a factor and makes aerial hitting challenging. Cloud cover likely, which aids seam movement. Teams winning the toss often elect to bowl first here. This could be one of the lower-scoring matches in the series.
⭐ Suggested Dream11 XI
- NZ WK-BatWKNZW
- Sophie DevineCNZW
- Amelia KerrNZW
- Georgia PlimmerNZW
- Laura WolvaardtVCSAW
- Chloé TryonSAW
- Suné LuusSAW
- Jess KerrNZW
- Lea TahuhuNZW
- Ayabonga KhakaSAW
- Nadine de KlerkSAW
📋 Team Breakdown
- Wicket-keeper1
- Batters3
- All-rounders3
- Bowlers4
- NZ Women6 players
- SA Women5 players
Why Devine as captain? She is in the form of her life — world record 10th fifty against this exact opponent, playing her 150th T20I in her last game. In dead rubbers, Devine tends to bat freely and attack. She is NZ’s most match-defining batter by a significant margin and the safest captain choice in this match.
Why Jess Kerr as differential? Hagley Oval’s seam-friendly surface is tailor-made for her style of bowling. Her 3/16 in Wellington proved she can dominate in these conditions. Most users will pick Amelia Kerr (safer option) — Jess at a likely lower price point gives better value per dollar on a surface that suits her game.
📺 Broadcast: Sony Sports Network & SonyLIV (India) | Sky Sport NZ | SuperSport (SA) | FanCode
New Zealand Women are favourites to complete a 4-1 series win at their favourite Hagley Oval venue. Jess Kerr’s swing bowling on a seam-friendly Christchurch surface, Devine’s form, and Amelia Kerr’s all-round quality give NZ multiple match-winners. The series result is settled, but NZ play to win every game — expect full intensity from both sides in a dead rubber that still matters for World Cup preparation.
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