New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women, 2020: 1st ODI – South Africa’s big chase, a rare 99 in Women’s ODIs, SA’s first NZ tour in 20 years and more stats

South Africa Women’s first visit to New Zealand in more than 20 years began on a great note as they registered a 7-wicket win in the first game of the 3-match ODI series. Katie Perkins’ 83-ball 78 and Suzie Bates’ 53 helped the home team to finish with 259/9 on what looked like a good surface to bat on.

The South African openers didn’t give the hosts any chances of defending the total. Lizelle Lee scored a run-a-ball 99 and shared a 163-run opening stand in 31.2 overs. Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 91 to see her team complete the 260-run chase in 48.3 overs losing only three wickets.

All the statistical highlights from South Africa Women’s 7-wicket win in the first ODI:

South Africa’s record chase:

260 – South Africa’s chase of 260 is now the 2nd highest successful chase and overall the 9th highest in Women’s ODI cricket. Their highest chase of 263 came against England in the 2016 Centurion ODI. South Africa Women’s previous biggest chase away from home was of 254 against England way back in the 1997 Taunton ODI.

Defeating New Zealand in New Zealand:

1 – The 7-wicket win in this match is South Africa Women’s first win against New Zealand Women in New Zealand. They lost all the four ODIs played previously against the hosts in New Zealand between 1999 and 2000. Prior to this series, South Africa won only two of the 11 ODIs they played against White Ferns in Women’s cricket; both during the 2016 home ODI series.

First taste of New Zealand conditions:

1 – All players in the South Africa Women’s XI during this match featured in an International match on New Zealand soil for the first time. South Africa Women played 11 ODIs in New Zealand; all between 1999 and 2000.

A rare ‘99’ in Women’s ODIs:

99 – Lizelle Lee became the first player from South Africa to be dismissed on 99 in Women’s ODI cricket. She is the 5th such player to be dismissed on 99 in this format after Mary-Pat Moore, Charlotte Edwards, Chamari Atapattu and Bismah Maroof. West Indies’ Carol-Ann James is the only player to remain unbeaten on 99 in a Women’s ODI which she recorded against Denmark in the 1997 Women’s CWC.

1 – Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt became the first pair of openers with scores of the 90s in the same Women’s ODI inning. This is only the 4th instance of two scores of the 90s in the same inning of a Women’s ODI but the first occasion where both those players were openers.

A record opening stand:

163 – The opening partnership of 163 runs is the 2nd highest by any pair for the first wicket against New Zealand Women in New Zealand in ODIs. The Indian pair of Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues put on 190 for the first wicket during last year’s Napier ODI.

Milestone match for the SA skipper:

100 – Dane van Niekerk became only the 4th player to feature in 100 matches in Women’s ODI cricket for South Africa. Mignon du Preez (128), Trisha Chetty (109) and Marizanne Kapp (106) are the other players to feature in 100 ODIs for South Africa Women.

New Zealand’s new captain:

15 – Sophie Devine became the 15th player to captain New Zealand Women in an ODI. Devine captained the New Zealand Women’s team in four T20Is between 2014 and 2015.

Highest scores against New Zealand:

80 – The highest individual ODI score for South Africa Women against New Zealand Women before this game was Mignon du Preez’s 80 in the 2016 Kimberley ODI. The South Africa openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt scored 99 and 91* respectively in this match.

However, these two are the 2nd and 3rd highest ODI scores in New Zealand for South Africa Women. Linda Olivier scored 101* against Ireland during the 2000 Women’s World Cup.