New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women | 1st ODI — ICC Women’s Championship 2026
South Africa Women tour of New Zealand 2026 • 1st ODI • ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women
Hagley Oval, Christchurch — Day/Night (50 overs)
📅 March 29, 2026 (Today) • 6:30 AM IST | 1:00 AM GMT | 2:00 PM Local
🏆 ICC Women’s Championship — 2029 World Cup Qualification Points at Stake!
🥝 New Zealand Women
Capt: Amelia Kerr | Won T20I series 4-1 | 5 consecutive home ODI wins | 7/34 vs Zimbabwe (NZ record)
VS
🇿🇦 South Africa Women
Capt: Laura Wolvaardt | 2025 Women’s WC Finalists | Won 4 of last 5 ODIs vs NZ | Kapp returning
🏏 T20I Series context: New Zealand won the T20I series 4-1. In the deciding 5th T20I at Hagley Oval, captain Amelia Kerr blasted a career-best 105 off just 55 balls — her maiden T20I century — in a 92-run win. SA won the 5th T20I in some versions of the series for a 3-2 scoreline (one source conflict). Kerr swept the NZ Cricket Awards 2026 alongside Jacob Duffy. Now both teams transition to the 50-over format with ICC Women’s Championship points on the line.
🌍 SA’s ODI credentials are superior: While NZ dominated the T20s, South Africa Women reached the final of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup. Captain Wolvaardt is ranked among the world’s top ODI batters (1,238 runs in last 24 ODIs, avg 56.27). SA have won 4 of their last 5 ODIs against NZ, including a 6-wicket win during the 2025 World Cup in India. Laura Wolvaardt has admitted SA needs a “massive turnaround” — but their ODI pedigree makes them genuine threats on any surface.
Confirmed Squads
🥝 New Zealand Women — Probable XI
Captain: Amelia Kerr Isabella Gaze (wk), Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr (c), Suzie Bates, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Jess Kerr, Flora Devonshire, Nensi Patel, Kayley Knight (potential debut — extra pace) Also in squad: Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing
🇿🇦 South Africa Women — Probable XI
Captain: Laura Wolvaardt Sinalo Jafta (wk), Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune Returning: Marizanne Kapp (from illness), Dané van Niekerk back in mix; Juliette Reyneke first ODI call-up
Pitch & Conditions — Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Average first innings score: 235-275 runs. Teams chasing have done well here historically, so the toss winner may elect to field first. Early morning sessions can see the ball “hoop around” significantly for seamers — Jess Kerr (NZ) and Ayabonga Khaka (SA) will target the first 10 overs. Once the ball softens, the pitch becomes a belter with true pace and bounce.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 16-20°C, 60% humidity. Low rain probability. Dew factor not significant (day match). Seamers will get help early, spinners in the middle overs.
Key Players to Watch
Amelia Kerr
NZ Women • Captain / Bat + Off-spin
105 off 55 in final T20I. 23 wickets in last 10 matches (4.64 econ). Best-ever NZ ODI figures: 7/34 vs Zimbabwe. Unmissable captain
Brooke Halliday
NZ Women • Bat
431 runs in last 8 innings, avg 71.83 — extraordinary recent form in the middle order. NZ’s secret weapon
Jess Kerr
NZ Women • Pace
12 wickets in last 9 matches (5.1 econ) — powerplay seam threat. Hagley early conditions suit her perfectly
Laura Wolvaardt
SA Women • Captain / Bat
710 runs in last 10 ODIs, avg 78.89, SR 108.06 — one of women’s cricket’s most prolific ODI batters in 2025-26
Sune Luus
SA Women • Bat + Spin
448 runs + 11 wickets in last 9 ODIs (avg 56) — SA’s most dangerous middle-over all-rounder
Nonkululeko Mlaba
SA Women • Left-arm spin
14 wickets in last 9 ODIs (5.03 econ, 30.78 SR) — SA’s best bowler in this format heading into the series
🏆 Predicted Winner
New Zealand Women
Confidence: 58% — Home advantage, 5 consecutive home ODI wins, T20 momentum, Kerr’s all-round supremacy. But SA’s ODI record (4/5 wins vs NZ) makes this very competitive.
⭐ Suggested XI
Isabella GazeWK
Amelia KerrC
Georgia Plimmer
Brooke HallidayVC
Laura Wolvaardt
Sune Luus
Tazmin Brits
Jess Kerr
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Ayabonga Khaka
Nadine de Klerk
📋 Strategy
Kerr as captain — bat + ball + leadership
Halliday as VC — 431 runs in 8 innings
Wolvaardt essential (78.89 ODI avg)
Sune Luus both departments
Mlaba differential (14 wkts in 9 ODIs)
NZ:SA = 6:5 balance
Amelia Kerr
🏏 Captain
Brooke Halliday
🏏 Vice-Captain
Nonkululeko Mlaba
🎯 Differential
📺 Broadcast: Sky Sport (NZ) | SuperSport (SA) | Sony Sports Network (India) | FanCode streaming. ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 — points here count directly toward 2029 World Cup qualification.
