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A sensational display of batting by skipper Amelia Kerr as her side, New Zealand Women, scripted history in the second ODI against South Africa Women, achieving the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history at the Basin Reserve to level their three-match series 1-1.
Chasing a mammoth target of 347 runs, Captain Amelia Kerr hammered an unbeaten 179 off 139 balls, steering the White Ferns to a nervy two-wicket win. Kerr's knock was filled with a blend of patience and aggression, where she slammed 23 fours and one six. Kerr received crucial support from Isabella Gaze (68), their 120-run partnership proving decisive in turning the game. With 11 runs required off the final over, Kerr struck boundaries against Nadine de Klerk to seal victory with two balls to spare. Earlier, South Africa posted 346/6, powered by Anneke Bosch (91), Laura Wolvaardt (69), and late-fire Chloe Tryon (52)*. Bree Illing was New Zealand's standout bowler, claiming three important wickets. The record chase came after New Zealand lost the opening ODI in a tight contest, setting up a thrilling series decider. Kerr's monumental innings reinforced her reputation as one of the leading players in women's cricket today. The successful run chase surpassed the previous best that India recorded in last year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final when they scored 341/5 in reply to Australia's total of 338 in Navi Mumbai. "Pretty special. I think at the halfway mark we were probably disappointed with our effort in the field, but we always knew it was a good wicket and you're always in the game," Kerr said in the post-match presentation as quoted by the ICC. "I think that was the key, that when we're in the changing room, we still believed we could win, and once I got in, I knew I had to keep going." (ANI)
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