Kayla Reyneke's Last-Ball Six Secures Thrilling ODI Victory for South Africa Women

In a dramatic ODI opener, Kayla Reyneke's last-ball six led South Africa women to a thrilling victory over New Zealand. Chasing 269 runs, South Africa faced early setbacks but Reyneke's explosive batting in the final moments secured the win. With this victory, South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the series. New Zealand, having recently won the T20I series, will look to bounce back in the next match. Read on for a detailed recap of this exciting encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 29, 2026, 18:16 IST

South Africa's Remarkable Chase

In a nail-biting finish, debutant Kayla Reyneke hit a six off the final ball of her ODI debut, leading South Africa women to a thrilling victory over New Zealand and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Facing a daunting target of 269 runs, the South African team lost Tazmin Brits in the very first over. Annerie Dercksen was called to bat early on. Captain Laura Wolvaardt managed to score 16 runs with three boundaries before being dismissed.

Sune Luus and Dercksen then formed a crucial partnership, adding 123 runs for the third wicket, which kept South Africa's hopes alive despite the early setbacks. Dercksen scored 72 runs off 93 balls before being dismissed in the 29th over, while Luus followed shortly after, contributing 53 runs.

Tense Final Moments

As wickets continued to fall, the White Ferns began to gain control of the match. However, Reyneke's aggressive batting kept the scoreboard ticking. With 22 runs needed from the last 13 balls and only two wickets remaining, she struck several boundaries, including a six on the final delivery, clinching the match for her team. Her outstanding performance earned her the Player of the Match title.

New Zealand's Competitive Innings

Earlier in the match, South Africa won the toss and opted to field first. Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking six wickets. The New Zealand batting lineup was anchored by their top four, with Maddy Green leading the charge, scoring 85 runs off 83 balls, including nine boundaries. Contributions from Suzie Bates (20 runs), Georgia Plimmer (28 runs), and captain Amelia Kerr (36 runs) helped set a formidable target of 269 runs.

Looking Ahead

Having recently won the five-match T20I series 4-1, New Zealand will aim to bounce back as they face South Africa again on Wednesday.