The White Ferns missed their chance to seal a Twenty20 series victory over South Africa, with the visitors pulling off a thrilling last-gasp chase at the Basin Reserve yesterday.
Needing 35 runs from the last three overs, South Africa were blasted home with a ball to spare thanks to powerful all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who smacked an unbeaten 34 off 16 balls — including 26 off the last nine — to peg the series back to 2-1 with two games remaining.
Sophie Devine, who had earlier been the White Ferns' star with the bat, failed to deliver with the ball, with her penultimate over — the 18th — going for 14 runs, before she was unable to defend 11 runs in the final over, with Tryon smoking the skipper over mid-wicket for six.
Tryon's three sixes in the last three overs provided the powerful finish South Africa needed in their chase of 154 for victory, after their early batters had made contributions but not at any great speed.
Lizelle Lee (18 from 18), Marizanne Kapp (20 from 15) and Mignon du Preez (20 from 15) weren't quite able to keep South Africa in touch with the required run rate, while skipper Dane van Niekerk (42 from 40) provided handy runs but left plenty of work for the middle order.