Sune Luus' six-wicket haul helps South Africa whitewash New Zealand

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Sune Luus' Fifer Seals a Thrilling Victory For The Proteas

The Proteas celebrating after Sune Luus takes a wicket. ©ICC

South Africa downed New Zealand by six wickets at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday (January 30). The result meant South Africa whitewashed New Zealand for the first time in an ODI series. Sune Luus was the star as she picked up six wickets for the second time in her career to help bundle out New Zealand for just 149 runs. The series win meant South Africa leapfrogged India to be third in the ICC Championship table with 22 points.

With the series already being sealed, South Africa inserted New Zealand in. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail started well yet another time and sent back Lauren Down (7) - in for Bernadine Bezuidenhout - and Maddy Green (5) respectively in the hut. Throughout the three-match series, the duo of Kapp and Ismail troubled the New Zealand openers with relentless accuracy and tight lines.

At the end of the 10-over mark, New Zealand were 27 for the loss of two wickets with Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, New Zealand's best players, in the middle. Bates got into her groove immediately and stroked two boundaries through covers off Ayabonga Khaka to signal her positive intent. The duo added over 50 runs together and seemed to be steadying the rocking New Zealand ship.

But then Dane van Niekerk broke the 59-run stand when she trapped Devine LBW for 25. Meanwhile, Bates continued her good form and brought her second fifty of the series - 27th of her ODI career - off just 56 balls. New Zealand also brought their hundred up in the 24th over.

That's when disaster struck New Zealand. Luss, having dropped Bates on 45, dismissed her for 51. Along with van Niekerk, she brough South Africa into the contest with three wickets in the middle phase of the innings.

Luus then had Amelia Kerr stumped, just when she seemed to be settling in before sending back Katey Martin (25) and Jess Kerr off successive deliveries. Though she didn't get a hat-trick, her fifth ODI fifer meant the White Ferns were dismissed for 149. In the process, she became the only player to have picked up six wickets twice in the format.

Chasing just 150, South Africa's openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt started positively as they scored 31 runs off just six overs. The in-form duo scored boundaries at will and looked set to wipe off the total quickly. New Zealand finally had something to cheer when Jess removed Lee for 20.

Wolvaardt, playing her 50th ODI, took over from Lee and brought the 50 up for South Africa in the 13th over. Wolvaardt along with Luus were playing cautiously without taking any risks. But soon both of them departed - Luus fell to Amelia for 15, while Wolvaardt fell for 26 to Devine.

Van Niekerk (30) and Mignon du Preez then added 43 together, before the latter stayed unbeaten on 35 to steer the side to a comfortable win with over 12 overs to spare.

Brief  Scores: New Zealand 149/10 in 38.1 overs (Suzie Bates 51, Sophie Devine 24; Sune Luus 6-45, Dane van Niekerk 1-33) lost to South Africa 150/4 in 37.2 overs (Mignon du Preez 35* Dane van Niekerk 30; Sophie Devine 1-19) by six wickets. PoTM: Sune Luus.
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