New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr scored an unbeaten 179 to help her side chase down 347 in their second ODI against South Africa in Wellington on Wednesday, April 1.
The White Ferns created history by registering the highest successful run chase in the women's game. The record was previously held by India when they chased down 339 against Australia in the 2025 Women's World Cup semi-final on their way to lifting the trophy.
Kerr played a crucial role in this historic run chase. Coming in to bat with her side 21-1 after losing the experienced Suzie Bates, the skipper went on the attack and never looked back. She registered her hundred off just 90 deliveries, with her final 79 runs coming off just 49 balls.
"I was really calm out there. I was so focused on simplifying it to each over and where we needed to be to get the job done. When I did hit the winning runs, I was actually pretty fizzed. It shows how much it means to me. I'm a pretty relaxed character with celebrations and all that stuff. But that was special,” she told the reporters.
Things did get a little nervy for New Zealand when they lost the wicket of Izzy Sharp, with the scoreboard reading 290 for 6. Kerr, however, kept her nerves and with 11 runs needed off the final over, the 25-year-old struck two boundaries off the first two balls and then a third on the fourth ball to take her side home.
"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. 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," Kerr said in the post-match presentation.
Kerr has been in some outstanding form ever since she was made captain of the New Zealand side. She recently scored 105 off just 55 balls in the final game of their T20I series against South Africa. The all-rounder scored 276 runs and took five wickets to be awarded Player of the Tournament as the White Ferns won the series 4-1.
Kerr also won the Debbie Hockley Medal as the best female player for the fourth successive year at the annual New Zealand Cricket Awards.
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