New Zealand Women and South Africa Women share a competitive rivalry in Women’s T20 Internationals. The teams first met in 2007, and New Zealand Women won that match by 97 runs.
The teams have played 22 T20Is against each other. New Zealand Women lead the head-to-head record with 16 wins. South Africa Women have won 5 matches, while one match ended without a result.
New Zealand Women have enjoyed more success in recent meetings. South Africa Women earned an important 18-run win in Hamilton on 17 March 2026. New Zealand Women hit back in the final match of the series and won by 92 runs in Christchurch on 25 March 2026.
Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr have made a big impact in this rivalry. Both players have scored important runs and taken crucial wickets. Their performances have helped New Zealand Women stay ahead in the head-to-head record.
New Zealand vs South Africa Women’s T20 Head to Head Summary Table
The head-to-head breakdown below contains all completed Women’s T20 International matches between New Zealand Women and South Africa Women, including ICC Women’s T20 World Cup encounters.
New Zealand Women and South Africa Women have played 22 Women’s T20 Internationals. New Zealand Women lead the rivalry with 16 wins. South Africa Women have won 5
| Category | New Zealand Women | South Africa Women |
| Matches Played | 22 | 22 |
| Won | 16 | 5 |
| Lost | 5 | 16 |
| Tied | 0 | 0 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Most Recent Win | 25 March 2026 (by 92 runs) | 17 March 2026 (by 18 runs) |
| Biggest Win (Runs) | 97 Runs (10 August 2007, Taunton) | 65 Runs (13 February 2023, Paarl) |
| Biggest Win (Wickets) | 9 Wickets (2 February 2020, Mount Maunganui) | 5 Wickets (31 March 2014, Sylhet) |
New Zealand Women won the latest match in this rivalry on 25 March 2026 in Christchurch. They beat South Africa Women by 92 runs. South Africa Women earned their most recent win on 17 March 2026 in Hamilton, where they secured an 18-run victory.
New Zealand Women recorded their biggest win by runs in August 2007 at Taunton. They defeated South Africa Women by 97 runs. They also claimed their biggest win by wickets in February 2020 at Mount Maunganui, winning by 9 wickets.
South Africa Women achieved their biggest win by runs in February 2023 at Paarl. They defeated New Zealand Women by 65 runs. Their biggest win by wickets came in March 2014 at Sylhet, where they won by 5 wickets.
Most Memorable T20I Matches Between New Zealand and South Africa Women’s Teams
From their first match in 2007 to exciting contests in recent years, New Zealand Women and South Africa Women have delivered many memorable moments in T20I cricket.
1. The Start: August 2007, Taunton
New Zealand and South Africa played their first T20 match on 10 August 2007 in Taunton. New Zealand won by 97 runs.
This was the first win in the history of this rivalry. New Zealand’s bowlers put them under pressure, causing South Africa to lose wickets quickly.
South Africa scored only 49 runs in response to New Zealand’s 146/8. This match started a new chapter for both teams.
2. The World Cup Final: October 2024, Dubai
New Zealand played one of their best games against South Africa in Dubai. This was the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
New Zealand batted and bowled well. They won by 32 runs and took the world title. Sophie Devine led the team.
Amelia Kerr scored 43 runs to help New Zealand reach 158/5. The South African batters felt the pressure while chasing. They lost wickets fast and only reached 126 runs, with Kerr returning to take 3/24 with the ball. New Zealand won the match clearly to win the trophy.
3. The Series Finale: March 2026, Christchurch
A big T20 match happened at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. This became a famous game as New Zealand wanted to finish the series well. Amelia Kerr changed the game, smashing a brilliant 105 runs off just 55 balls.
Georgia Plimmer also built a strong partnership with her teammates. This effort helped New Zealand reach 194/6. South Africa struggled early in the chase.
They lost quick wickets against a sharp New Zealand bowling attack, finishing at 102/9. New Zealand defended the score to win by 92 runs and claim a famous series victory.
Top Run-Scorers in New Zealand vs South Africa Women’s T20I History
New Zealand Women and South Africa Women have seen several batters make a big impact in this T20I rivalry. Their runs have helped shape many important matches.
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Innings | Total Runs | High Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophie Devine | New Zealand | 16 | 15 | 455 | 73 | 35 | 139.14 |
| 2 | Suzie Bates | New Zealand | 16 | 15 | 433 | 124* | 33.3 | 119.5 |
| 3 | Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 14 | 14 | 362 | 53 | 27.84 | 108.38 |
New Zealand’s Sophie Devine leads the batting charts against South Africa with 455 runs across 16 matches.
Her teammate Suzie Bates follows closely among the leading run-scorers with 433 runs, including a high score of 124 not out at Taunton in 2018. South African captain Laura Wolvaardt plays with great efficiency in this rivalry, scoring 362 runs to anchor her team’s batting order.
Top Wicket-Takers in New Zealand vs South Africa Women’s T20I History
New Zealand and South Africa bowlers often decide the outcome of these T20I matches. Active wicket-takers regularly create memorable results for both teams.
| Rank | Player | Team | Wickets Taken | Best Bowling Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophie Devine | New Zealand Women | 22 | 4/22 |
| 2 | Amelia Kerr | New Zealand Women | 17 | 3/24 |
| 3 | Ayabonga Khaka | South Africa Women | 15 | 4/27 |
Sophie Devine leads the bowling charts overall with 22 wickets against South Africa, maintaining a best figure of 4/22.
Amelia Kerr remains a key player for New Zealand, helping with both batting and bowling, including her crucial 3 wickets for 24 runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Ayabonga Khaka is the main threat for South Africa; her best bowling figure against New Zealand is 4 wickets for 27 runs, which she claimed during the March 2026 bilateral series.
Conclusion: New Zealand Women Maintain Control of the T20I Rivalry
New Zealand Women lead this rivalry with 16 wins from 22 Women’s T20 Internationals. South Africa Women have won 5 matches, while one match ended without a result.
Since their first meeting in 2007, New Zealand Women have produced many strong performances and won several important matches, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2024.
Several star players have shaped this rivalry over the years. Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Amelia Kerr have played key roles for New Zealand Women with both bat and ball.
Laura Wolvaardt has delivered many important innings for South Africa Women. South Africa continue to challenge New Zealand, but New Zealand Women hold the stronger record and remain ahead in this Women’s T20I rivalry.
