15|03|04

The Proteas got a cold welcome from the first T20 match against New Zealand, losing the match by 80 runs at the Bay Oval, thanks to Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer's record-breaking second-wicket partnership.

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first, and the South African side got a wicket off the first ball. Plimmer and Izzy Gaze decided to take a quick single to set the tone for the innings that New Zealand wanted to score quickly, but unfortunately, Gaze was run out by Nadine de Klerk without facing a ball. Then came New Zealand's new captain, Amelia Kerr, joining Plimmer, and the two made a 146-run partnership, a record second-wicket partnership for New Zealand, in 83 balls.

South African bowlers brought things back after that second wicket, as New Zealand scored 44 runs in the last 36 balls. In those 44 runs, 5 wickets fell, with Masabata Klaas and Nadine de Klerk finishing with 2 wickets each. Klaas was head and shoulders above the other bowlers, as she went for 15 runs in her 4 overs, compared to her teammates who went for 8 runs an over or more.

In the chase of 191, South Africa struggled to get going with Sune Luus and Tazmin Brits at the top. Luus was eventually dismissed by Jess Kerr for 10 from 11 balls. The Proteas skipper came in at three but was unable to replicate her counterpart's heroics, as she was dismissed without scoring by Jess Kerr in the same over.

The Proteas batters never got going, with Brits top-scoring with a laborious 29 from 35 balls. Former Proteas U19 captain Kayla Reyneke was the only South African batter who looked comfortable, with an unbeaten 24 from 18 balls. The Proteas managed to get 110 for 7 in their 20 overs, subsequently losing the match by 80 runs.