Amelia Kerr rarely lets emotions slip, yet on Wednesday afternoon in Potchefstroom she could not hide the grin. Her unbeaten 179 from 139 deliveries dragged New Zealand to the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history, levelling the series against South Africa and banking two welcome ICC Women’s Championship points.
“Would you say that’s one of your favourite innings?” she was asked in the post-match media call.
“Yeah, no doubt. It’s No. 1. Yeah, I think to get a big hundred like that but in a big chase against a quality side, it’s, yeah, definitely No. 1.”
New Zealand had been set 322, a target that looked a stretch when they slipped to 121 for 4. Kerr, calm as usual, broke it down over-by-over.
“I was really calm out there and just was so focused on, I guess, simplifying it to each over and where we needed to be to get the job done,” she explained. “And then it kind of got to like 20 [22] off 15 or whatever it was, and you start to think how cool would this be if we won. But again, I probably didn’t have those thoughts till that moment in the game and just had to bring myself back to the present moment rather than thinking this could be really cool, making sure I get the job done.
“And yeah, I thought because I was pretty calm that I wouldn’t show too much emotion. But when I did hit the winning runs, it was I was actually pretty fizzed. And I guess it shows how much it means to me. I’m a pretty relaxed character with celebrations and all that stuff. But that was special. And to make the series go 1-1 as well, it was an important game. There are important points, and it means a lot.”
Those closing overs were ruthless. Kerr took 79 from her final 49 balls, peppering the straight boundary and manipulating the gaps square of the wicket. Almost half her runs – 98 – came in fours and sixes.
Isabella Gaze’s support proved decisive. The keeper-batter blasted 68 from 48 deliveries, sharing a 120-run partnership in only 82 balls and easing the asking rate below a run-a-ball.
“There wasn’t run-rate pressure through that middle phase of the game as she was flying,” Kerr said of Gaze. “I thought she was amazing. The way she took on the game and just played, it allowed us, I guess, to be where we were at the back end.”
Kerr’s approach was also shaped by memories of recent high-scoring tournaments.
“Through the 50-over World Cup, seeing the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues and her run chase against Australia, and I think the final, [Laura] Woolvardt got a 150, and there were teams chasing big scores over there. And even though it wasn’t us doing it, I guess again seeing that helps you believe that we’re capable of doing it too.”
She admitted she had a personal target once three figures were up. “I think when I got to hundred, I looked at how many more runs [were] left to win and thought if I get another 80 runs here, and I think I looked at the balls, I thought if I get about 80 off 40 here, then we’ll get the rest of the runs through everyone else, and I can try to finish 180 not out,” she said. “And that was kind of my thought process in terms of what I needed to do individually. At times you’ve got to take risks, but also at times your partner’s got to take risks, and that’s where Izzy was outstanding.”
South Africa’s bowlers will reflect on missed lengths in the death overs, though earlier Shabnim Ismail’s new-ball spell and Marizanne Kapp’s cutters had kept the visitors in check. Captain Laura Wolvaardt praised Kerr afterwards, admitting “there wasn’t much we could do once she was set”.
From New Zealand’s point of view, the chase underlines a growing belief that their batting can match any side. Coach Ben Sawyer called it “a template we can trust”, adding that the side had previously “spoken about intent but not always shown it”.
The teams meet again on Saturday for the decider. Momentum often feels intangible, but South Africa now know exactly what is required to wrest it back: remove Amelia Kerr early, or risk watching another masterclass, this time without any surprise at the celebrations that follow.
