After a morale-boosting win, South Africa aim to draw level while New Zealand look to shut the series

A win is always a win, no matter what it takes to achieve it. For South Africa, their triumph in the third T20I on Sunday (February 9) was a much-needed victory to keep the series alive after going down in the first two encounters. With two matches still to go, the series is surely alive and kicking and the Dane van Niekerk-led side would like to make it 2-2 when they square off against New Zealand in the fourth game Monday (February 10).

For South Africa, it was Chloe Tryon's enterprising unbeaten 16-ball 34 towards the end of the innings on Sunday that sealed the deal for the visitors. After two successive failures, the big-hitting allrounder finally came good with the bat. Another aspect what must have been pleasing to the Proteas team management is the form of Ayabonga Khaka, who picked up two wickets on Sunday giving away just 14 runs. In the three matches so far, Khaka has picked four wickets at an economy rate of less than six runs per over.

Van Niekerk is naturally quite happy with the composure her team has shown in this match and hoped to come back with same attitude on Monday. “It was an all-round team performance today and we are happy that we managed to win and stay alive in the series," she said. "What will be important is that we should come back tomorrow with the same attitude and make sure that we execute our plans well in all facets of the game to take this series to the last game in Dunedin.”

Meanwhile, the visitors should be wary of the fact that New Zealand will come hard after a gut-wrenching loss. For the hosts, it was yet again a one-woman show from their skipper Sophie Devine. The big-hitting allrounder first scored 77 off 57 balls and then took two wickets to almost single-handedly guide New Zealand to victory. Apart from Devine, the form of opener Rachel Priest and Suzie Bates is also a concern, which, kind of, has put added pressure on Devine not allowing her to break free. 

Meanwhile, the hosts have bowled well in the series. Holly Huddleston, who played her first match of the series also had a nice outing on Sunday with two wickets. While South Africa would be aiming to square of the series, the hosts would want to seal the deal in the fourth match itself.

Squads

New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Lea Tahuhu.

South Africa: Dane Van Niekerk (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Mignon Du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune, Trisha Chetty, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine De Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase.