Sport

White Ferns clinch T20 series after Sophie Devine century

06:38 am on 11 February 2020

The White Ferns have clinched the T20 series against South Africa after a magnificent century from captain Sophie Devine in Wellington.

NZ captain Sophie Devine. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

It was Devine's first century at the international T20 level and she did it with the support of the only other White Fern to get a ton in this format - Suzie Bates.

Bates joined Devine at the crease when opener Lauren Down was bowled for 11 and the two veterans never looked back.

It was also a dismal fielding effort at the Basin Reserve by the South Africans at times. Devine went out on the second to last ball for 105, while Bates finished 47 not out.

Together they helped amass 171/2.

Devine's innings also set a world record.

It was her fifth successive T20 international half-century a feat no-one in the game has achieved before.

She overtook India's Mithali Raj and Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle who had all struck four in a row.

The White Ferns were just as good in the field, bowling South Africa out for 102 after 17 overs.

Anna Peterson picked up three wickets for New Zealand.

The White Ferns now hold an unassailable 3-1 series lead. The fifth and final T20 is on Thursday in Dunedin.

On Friday the White Ferns head to the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.