NEW Zealand could not have asked for a much better start to their Commonwealth Games women’s cricket campaign, downing South Africa by 13 runs.

The White Ferns certainly put to bed anyone’s doubts about their pre-tournament chances, and it was thanks to a brilliant captain’s game with bat and ball from Sophie Devine (48 runs, three wickets), and with the bat from Suzie Bates (91 not out).

After South Africa sent them in, Bates and Devine were on from the get go, blasting five sixes and 12 fours between them on their way to an almost 100 run opening stance. Amelia Kerr joined Bates at the end for a quick fire 20 to see the Kiwis finish on a very competitive 2/167 off their 20 overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba was the only one of South Africa’s bowlers to pick up a wicket, taking 1/33 off her four overs.

In reply the South Africans got off to a shaky start, losing 2/15 inside the first four overs. Mignon Du Preez, Laura Wolvaardt, Chloe Tryon and skipper Sune Luus all tried to get the South African innings going, but ultimately all made quick fire scores in the 20s and 30s.

The South Africans just kept losing too many wickets at a far too regular pace, so as the game progressed achieving the Kiwis’ monster target became less and less likely. The Proteas ultimately finished on 7/154. Tryon was in the end the top scorer on 39, followed by Luus on 32, Wolvaardt on 28 and du Preez on 26. Devine was the only multiple wicket taker, but Kerr, Hayley Jensen and Hannah Rowe were also among the wicket takers.

South Africa now faces a tricky climb to progress out of the group stage. They will have to hope that the net run rate of whoever loses the England v New Zealand clash in a few days is not better than theirs at the end of the tournament.