17|03|04

South Africa won the second T20 match against New Zealand by 18 runs, bringing the series level at 1-1.

The Proteas batted first, and their openers brought aggression, scoring 62 runs from 42 balls for the first wicket. Sune Luus was the first wicket to fall, out for 31 off 21 balls. Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt kept the momentum with their 48-run partnership. Brits scored her 14th T20 half-century before she was caught at short fine leg by Jess Kerr off the bowling of Amelia Kerr.

New Zealand brought things back with the ball as the South African middle order struggled to get going, with Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, and Nadine de Klerk failing to impress. That was until 20-year-old Kayla Reyneke joined her captain Wolvaardt with 11 balls left in the innings and South Africa at 143 for 5.

Reyneke would face 9 of those 11 balls and score 28 runs, including 3 sixes off the bowling of Sophie Devine. South Africa finished on 177 for 5 in their 20 overs, and Wolvaardt anchored the innings with an unbeaten 41 from 33 balls.

In their defense of 178, South Africa struck early with a wicket from a struggling Annerie Dercksen, who dismissed Georgia Plimmer for 1. Isabella Gaze was the second wicket to fall and Ayabonga Khaka's first wicket of four in the match.

The introduction of Nonkululeko Mlaba brought with it the wicket of the in-form New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr (32). Four balls later, Devine followed, courtesy of de Klerk, leaving the White Ferns struggling at 72 for 4.