New Zealand Women sealed the ODI series with a commanding 66-run victory over South Africa Women in the third and final match at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Opting to bat first after being put in, New Zealand recovered from a shaky start to post an imposing 306/7 in their 50 overs, powered by a brilliant unbeaten century from Maddy Green. In response, South Africa were bowled out for 240 in 46.1 overs, handing the hosts a 2-1 series win.

New Zealand were in early trouble at 3/2, but Green anchored the innings with remarkable composure. She found a steady partner in Brooke Halliday, and the duo stitched together a match-defining 211-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Green produced a career-best knock, remaining unbeaten on 141 off 128 balls, laced with 15 boundaries. It marked her third ODI century and her highest score in the format. Halliday, meanwhile, fell just short of a well-deserved hundred, scoring a fluent 98 off 124 deliveries.

Chasing 307, South Africa needed a strong foundation but struggled to build sustained partnerships. Laura Wolvaardt led the resistance with a composed 69, while Annerie Dercksen contributed 47 as the pair added 77 runs for the second wicket.

However, the innings unravelled after their dismissal. South Africa lost six wickets for just 59 runs, derailing the chase despite a brief 29-run cameo from Chloe Tryon.

With the ball, Rosemary Mair starred with a match-winning spell of 5/50, breaking the backbone of South Africa’s batting lineup. Amelia Kerr provided excellent support by taking two wickets, while Jess Kerr, Kayley Knight, and Nensi Patel each contributed one.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 306/7 (50 overs) – Maddy Green 141*, Brooke Halliday 98; Ayanda Hlubi 2/47, Tumi Sekhukhune 2/57
South Africa 240 all out (46.1 overs) – Laura Wolvaardt 69, Annerie Dercksen 47; Rosemary Mair 5/50, Amelia Kerr 2/37

New Zealand won by 66 runs and clinched the series 2-1.