White Ferns out to inflict South Africa's first loss of World Cup in Hamilton

The White Ferns were always targeting a win over South Africa to help them make the World Cup semifinals.

That hasn’t changed ahead of Thursday’s day-night game in Hamilton, but there’s far less wiggle room for the tournament hosts.

Defeat in the opening game of their campaign to the West Indies, coupled with Sunday’s heavy loss to Australia, has thrown New Zealand into a pitched, murky fight when a clearer picture of the likely top four at the end of round-robin play was expected pre-tournament.

New Zealand have two wins from four games while South Africa have yet to be beaten in the Cup, upsetting England in Mount Maunganui on Monday after proving too strong for Pakistan and Bangladesh.

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But Thursday’s hosts will know they’re capable of victory if they’re near their best, despite suffering a comprehensive 3-0 ODI series defeat at home to South Africa in early 2020.

South Africa’s potency would have been hindered if key pace bowler Shabnim Ismail hadn’t recovered from the injury which saw her limp from the field before being able to bowl her final five overs in the win over England, but she was pronounced ready to play on Wednesday.

The victors got a stellar performance in her late absence from Marizanne Kapp, but the home side’s batters should be keen to target South Africa’s lack of bowling variation and depth.

South Africa usually field four right-arm seamers – Ismail, Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas, while Chloe Tryon and skipper Sune Luus are their spin options.

Tryon is a reliable left-arm orthodox bowler but Luus struggled badly with her leggies versus England and the White Ferns must be seeking any edge they can find.

One thing the hosts can’t afford to do is repeat England’s woeful fielding performance on Monday, especially to opener Laura Wolvaardt.

The elegant right-hander was dropped three times and survived a missed stumping too on her way to 77 from 101 balls and is now the tournament’s fourth-highest runscorer and the anchor of South Africa’s batting.

New Zealand’s capitulation to the tournament favourites in Wellington massively harmed their net run-rate, meaning even four wins is no guarantee of a place in the last four, although skipper Sophie Devine described the pending encounter as “not quite do-or-die just yet”.

Seddon Park was the site of their best display of the Cup to date when they saw off India by 62 runs, and while coach Bob Carter has kept the same XI for the past three games, there must be a temptation to strengthen the batting by recalling Brooke Halliday to the middle-order.

Leaving out Hayley Jensen would allow that to happen – the right-arm swing bowler has been the most expensive of NZ’s frontline bowlers, while skipper Sophie Devine could capably fill a role with the ball, having only bowled six overs in four matches, if fully fit from a quad niggle.

Devine said on Wednesday she was making good progress to full fitness and admitted being able to bowl more could allow a change in the make-up of the side.

More will be expected on Thursday from inswinging opening bowler Jess Kerr, after picking up just one wicket in her last three matches.

The other tinkering option open to Carter is promoting the in-form Amy Satterthwaite to No 3 in the batting order. That could allow Devine and fellow opener Suzie Bates to be more aggressive in the power play, and also hand Melie Kerr more freedom at No 4 if an early wicket falls.

AT A GLANCE

Women’s cricket World Cup, game 16

New Zealand v South Africa, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 2pm start

White Ferns (from): Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr, Amy Satterthwaite, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Katey Martin (wk), Frankie Mackay, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Hayley Jensen, Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas, Georgia Plimmer.

South Africa (from): Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus (c), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty, Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Nonkululeko Mbala, Tumi Sekhukhune, Sinalo Jafta.

Coverage: Live on Sky Sport, live blog on Stuff.

TAB odds: NZ $1.40 South Africa $2.75.