Marizanne Kapp's four-wicket-haul nails New Zealand, helps South Africa seal the series 2-0

Twice before Monday (January 27), Marizanne Kapp had taken four wickets in an ODI innings – against India in 2014 and then against West Indies in 2017 – and on both occasions the opposition was bowled out for a paltry total. Needless to say, South Africa won on both those occasions.

In the second ODI on Monday, Kapp again picked up a four-fer that knocked New Zealand over for a very low 115. When both the ingredients were present, how could the result not possibly be the same? The Proteas wrapped the match in quick time and sealed the three-match series with a game to spare by virtue of a eight-wicket win at the Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland.

It wasn’t as if the hosts didn’t get their choice. Despite being unable to defend a decent score in the first ODI, New Zealand opted to try and defend a score as they batted first. Beginning against the likes of Shabnim Ismail and Kapp is no mean task and Maddy Green, in for Lauren Down, learnt it the hard way as she chopped one on for just two.

Soon, her opening partner Bernadine Bezuidenhout was back in the hut as well for six, after getting a streaky boundary off the inside edge of the bat a couple of deliveries before. Kapp was surely making life tough for the batters.

That is when Suzie Bates was joined by her ‘Smash Sister’ Sophie Devine in the middle. The duo managed to keep South Africa wicketless for 38 balls, during which they added 22. It was a double-ended attack from the tourists as Ismail was conjuring dots after dots, including bowling a maiden, the result of which saw Devine get run out for nine in a bid to steal a quick run.

Bates carried on slowly from the other end even as she lost Katie Perkins (zero) and Katey Martin (19), who was slated to take the gloves after she replaced Rachel Priest in the XI. As long as she stayed, New Zealand would have hoped to get to a decent score. She did look certain to cross a half century before chopping one on to her stumps off Ayabonga Khaka. She could make only 38, in the process becoming the leading run-scorer in ODIs in New Zealand.

The home team was on five for 86 before Bates fell. Once the veteran departed, the White Ferns ended up losing their final five wickets for just 29 runs. Yet again Kapp caused some more damage, being on the verge of a hat-trick as well. She was denied that by Holly Huddleston, but nothing could prevent New Zealand from being bowled out for 115.

With the confidence of having chased a tall score in the first ODI, Lizelle Lee began in an attacking manner, hitting two fours in the first over bowled by Jess Kerr, the debutante who replaced Rosemary Mair. However, Laura Wolvaardt couldn’t open her account, getting caught behind off Devine for a 12-ball duck.

Lee and Sune Luus then carried on in a slow but steady manner, adding 42 together. A smart fielding tweak then saw Lee being dismissed, albeit it was a contentious call. With a silly mid-on right next to the pitch in place to cut Lee’s flicks, she chose to explore the off side with her strokes. She miscued an attempted hit over mid-off and the New Zealand captain took a good diving catch.

However, it was taken upstairs since she was unsure whether it carried. Inexplicably, the soft signal by the on-field umpire was out. The replays didn’t have conclusive evidence to overturn that call and as a result, Lee walked back unhappily for 38. She had hit five fours and a six in her 43-ball knock.

But then Mignon du Preez walked in to the middle and got off the blocks very quickly, adding an unconquered 60 with Luus and taking South Africa home. Luus remained unbeaten on 37 while du Preez made 27-ball 35 not out.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 115 all out in 36 overs (Suzie Bates 38; Marizanne Kapp 4/29, Ayabonga Khaka 2/21) lost to South Africa 117/2 in 23.5 overs (Lizelle Lee 38, Sune Luus 37*, Mignon du Preez 35*; Sophie Devine 1/16, Jess Kerr 1/23) by eight wickets.