The WHITE FERNS have started the T20 series against South Africa in style with a nine wicket win at Bay Oval.
Sophie Devine (54*) lead the charge with the bat, Devine putting on 75 for the first wicket with fellow opener Rachel Priest (37).
The home side chased down the required 117 runs in the 13th over to take a 1-0 series lead in the five-match series.
Earlier, the WHITE FERNS won the toss and elected to bowl first, spinners Leigh Kasperek and Melie Kerr returning identical figures of 2-17.
The series now moves to Seddon Park with game two on Thursday.
AS IT HAPPENED...
TEAM KERR get us going on @skysportnz with @FrankieMac71 🏏
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🗣 “We’ve played together at Tawa College and for the @Wgtn_Blaze but do it for NZ is something pretty special” - Melie Kerr 👍🏽 #NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/C59lsPpQJy
Everyone’s warming up! Players, @skysportnz and the temperature! ☀️ 🌡 #NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/27J1EjxUnb
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
TOSS NEWS: @sophdevine77 has won it and elected to bowl first! Lea Tahuhu is BACK in the XI 🏏 #NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/0ACuRYzazW
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🗣 “Lea Tahuhu returns today so that adds a bit of pace to the attack which we are excited about”
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
Sophie Devine catches up with @radiosportnz’s Bryan Waddle post toss 🏏#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/pebotbTAPy
Anthems ✅
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
T20 cricket is GO! 🚀
We’re having a bowl & Leigh Kasperek will take first over 🏏 #NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/N4RM1Rar9X
SIX OVERS gone here at @BayOvalOfficial and the WHITE FERNS have the prized wicket of Lizelle Lee (17) 🏏 Leigh Kasperek with the breakthrough in the 5th over 👍🏽
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇿🇦 40/1 | https://t.co/e4M4rVawIw#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/RS63ZMJMmC
WHITE FERNS bowlers are pegging it back well here! Halfway through the @OfficialCSA innings and the visitors are 56/1 🏏
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇿🇦 CARD | https://t.co/e4M4rVawIw#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/4MVXdytPL3
BANG, BANG WHITE FERNS! Hayley Jensen gets the reward for a strong spell removing the dangerous Wolvaardt for 33. Then Melie Kerr with some sharp work at point effects the run out of Chloe Tryon for a duck 🏏
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇿🇦 CARD | https://t.co/e4M4rVawIw#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/0AzGKnrZ5a
#StatChat | @RossLTaylor is set to become the 2nd Kiwi to play 100 Twenty20 Internationals today joining @SuzieWBates in reaching the milestone. Bates is playing her 112th T20I for the @WHITE_FERNS today as part of the @BayOvalOfficial double-header. #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/20QVAYpSlZ
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 2, 2020
STUNNER of a caught and bowled from Melie Kerr in the final over! #NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/Tzz3mqVc4e
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
SOLID EFFORT with the ball as we restrict South Africa to 116/7 from their 20 overs 👏🏽 Now we bat...
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇿🇦 CARD | https://t.co/e4M4rVawIw#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/z8m4J9zxyc
Out in pursuit of 117...
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
DEVINE & PRIEST to open up 👍🏽
FOLLOW us on Instagram ➡️➡️ white_ferns ✅#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/oIu6QLjKbs
VIBES in the sheds after FIVE overs with Devine (16) & Priest (19) doing the business 🏏
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇳🇿 36/0 | https://t.co/e4M4rUSVjW#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/Bs7P3VWc0q
50 for @sophdevine77 (51 off 27) 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
🇳🇿 CARD | https://t.co/e4M4rUSVjW#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/CuFv1Cra4j
NINE WICKET WIN! We start the T20s in style here at @BayOvalNZ 🏏 Over to you @BLACKCAPS 😜#NZvSA #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/5GbDLuE2z2
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020
That’s a wrap from @BayOvalNZ! Over to you @BLACKCAPS 🏏 #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/s4SIi6zOFJ
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 2, 2020