Captain Amelia Kerr was front and centre as New Zealand pulled off a world-record chase of 347 to beat South Africa by two wickets in a thrilling second ODI on Wednesday in Wellington. Kerr was unbeaten on 179 off 139 balls as New Zealand completed the chase with two balls to spare. It is the highest succesfull run chase in the history of Women’s ODIs, overhauling India’s record of 338 against Australia in the semifinal of last year’s Women’s World Cup. It was Kerr’s second highest score in ODIs – she holds the record for highest score in the format, a unbeaten 232 off 195 balls that she had scored against Ireland in June 2018. She hit one six and 23 fours over the course of her innings, having come in to bat in the fifth over after opener Suzie Bates fell to Ayabonga Khaka. A win looked unlikely for New Zealand for much of the first half of their innings. While Kerr settled in quickly, New Zealand had lost a total of four wickets by the 25th over. Kerr finally found a partner in wicketkeeper-batter Isabelle Gaze, who scored 68 in 48 balls. The pair put up a stand of 120 runs in 82 balls, which somewhat knocked the wind out of South Africa’s sails. Kerr reached her century in 90 balls and was on 113 off 97 balls by the time Gaze fell. She accelarated while batting with the lower order, putting up quickfire stands with Izzy Sharp and her sister Jess Kerr. While it may only be Kerr’s second highest score, she put this as her best innings thus far. “It’s number one,” Kerr said. “To get a big hundred like that in a big chase against a quality side is definitely number one.” “I was really calm out there and just was so focused on, simplifying it to each over and where we needed to be to get the job done,” she told reporters. “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.”
Amelia Kerr smashes unbeaten 179 as New Zealand topple India’s world record for highest Women’s ODI chase
