Proteas Strike Back! South Africa Women Stun New Zealand with an 18-Run Thriller in the 2nd T20I
By Crick tv
Updated: Mar 18, 2026 01:30 PM
"Form is temporary, class is permanent." South Africa Women just proved this old cricket adage absolutely right.
After suffering a massive 80-run defeat in the series opener, Laura Wolvaardt’s squad bounced back like absolute champions at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Defending a solid 177, the Proteas secured a thrilling 18-run victory to level the five-match 2026 T20I series 1-1.
If you are a fan of explosive batting, death-bowling masterclasses, and pure dhamakedar cricket, this match had it all.
The Toss & The Tazmin Brits Show
South Africa won the toss and didn't hesitate to bat first. The message in the dressing room was clear: put runs on the board and apply the pressure.
The top order delivered exactly that. Tazmin Brits was in pure beast mode, anchoring the innings with a brilliant 53 off 43 balls (smashing 5 fours and 3 sixes). Sune Luus played a blazing cameo of 31 off 21 balls, setting a solid 62-run opening stand. Captain Laura Wolvaardt also kept the scoreboard ticking with a beautifully composed, unbeaten 41*.
But wait, the real fireworks were saved for the final overs!
Kayla Reyneke: The Ultimate Game-Changer
If you missed the 20th over, you missed the absolute turning point of the match.
Kayla Reyneke walked in and flipped the script. Facing the highly experienced Sophie Devine, Reyneke launched three consecutive sixes, finishing with an explosive 28 off just 9 deliveries*. Operating at a mind-boggling strike rate of 311.11, she pushed South Africa from a competitive total to a daunting 177/5.
Unsurprisingly, this spectacular cameo earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Khaka & Mlaba Weave a Bowling Masterclass
Chasing 178 is never a walk in the park, but New Zealand Women looked incredibly dangerous early on. At 70/2, with captain Amelia Kerr (32) and Sophie Devine at the crease, the White Ferns seemed completely in control and poised to take a 2-0 series lead.
Then, the South African bowling unit decided it was time to close the doors:
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Nonkululeko Mlaba (3/27): Broke the backbone of the chase by trapping the dangerous Amelia Kerr LBW, shifting the momentum entirely back to the visitors.
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Ayabonga Khaka (4/27): Delivered an absolute clinic in variation and death bowling. She was practically unplayable, stopping Izzy Sharp (29) in her tracks and triggering a massive middle-order collapse.
Despite a valiant effort, the New Zealand lineup crumbled under the mounting run rate, getting bowled out for 159 in 19.1 overs.
Key Takeaways from the Match
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Elite Resilience: South Africa went from an 80-run thrashing to a clinical 18-run win in a matter of days. That is top-tier mental toughness.
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Death Over Dominance: Reyneke’s 9-ball blitz was the literal difference between a defendable 150-ish total and a match-winning 177.
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Bowlers Win Matches: Khaka and Mlaba sharing 7 wickets perfectly highlights why having a disciplined bowling attack is the ultimate cheat code in T20 cricket.
What’s Next?
With the series beautifully poised at 1-1, the action moves to Eden Park, Auckland, for the 3rd T20I on March 20. If this match was any indication, cricket fans are in for an absolute blockbuster for the rest of the tour.