In-form New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr scored an unbeaten 179, leading her team to highest ever successful ODI run chase. Chasing a target of 347 against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa at Basin Reserve, Wellington, Amelia helped the White Ferns get over the line with two wickets in hand and two balls to spare.
New Zealand broke India’s record for highest successful ODI run chase In ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal, India chased down 339 against Australia as Jemimah Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 127.
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Amelia also registered the second-highest score by a batter in an ODI run chase. The top spot belongs to Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu who scored an unbeaten 195 against South Africa in 2024.
South Africa post a daunting total
Earlier, Amelia won the toss and opted to bowl first. Laura scored 69 before falling to Bree Illing. Anneke Bosch missed her century as she was dismissed for a 90-ball 91. Sune Luus (43-ball 40), Sinalo Jafta (29-ball 37), Nadine de Klerk's (11-ball 18) cameos and Chloe Tryon's unbeaten 25-ball 52, featuring five sixes and three sixes, took the visitors to 346/6. While Bree took three wickets, Amelia remained wicketless, conceding 67 runs from his quota of 10 overs.
Amelia’s captain’s knock for ages
In the run chase, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer were dismissed cheaply. Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday couldn't covert starts either. New Zealand were 130/4 in the 25th over of the run chase. But, Amelia continued to dominate and play the anchor role. Isabella Gaze turned out to be the perfect partner to help steer the ship in the middle overs. In the 35th over, Amelia reached her century from 90 balls. In the same over, Isabella completed her fifty from 36 balls.
The partnership was broken by Masabata Klaas in the 38th over. Isabella hit 11 fours in her 48-ball 68. The two shared a 120-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Izzy Sharp struggled and scored 11 runs from 17 balls. In the 47th over, Amelia hit Nadine for a six and a four to reach her 150. In the 48th over, Jess Kerr departed for a seven-ball 14. In the penultimate over, Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Rosemary Mair. 11 runs were needed in the final over. Amelia hit Nadine for three fours and scored a couple of runs as she pulled off a thrilling win for New Zealand. Her knock of 179 off 139 balls was laced with 23 fours and a six.
This was Amelia's fifth ODI ton. She has been in phenomenal form in white-ball formats. In the T20I series, she had scored a century and a fit against South Africa. The ODI series is now level at 1-1.