Mignon du Preez led the way as the South Africa women bounced back for a solid four-wicket win over new Zealand in the second ODI in Kimberley on Tuesday.

The former captain, who gave up the role to concentrate on her batting, scored an excellent 80 off 112 balls, with 10 fours, to anchor the team’s efforts.

The Proteas women came into this match on the back of a humiliating collapse in the first ODI, in which they lost five wickets for no runs, to lose by 12 runs while chasing 128.

This time, the target was stiffer, at 223, but the top order did what they needed to do and established a decent base.

Du Preez came in after Lizelle Lee had led an early charge, hammering 42 off 42, with five fours and two sixes. She and Lara Goodall (13) had put on 47 for the first wicket, when Du Preez came to the wicket.

There was good support from Dane van Niekerk (21), Marizanne Kapp (27) and Sune Luus (25 not out), who saw the team over the line with five balls to spare when Du Preez was bowled, five runs short of the target.

The South Africans did well to rein in the New Zealanders to 222-8 after their openers put on 45 in the Powerplay, and went on to 67 after 15 overs before the first wicket fell, when Rachel Priest was run out for 31.

Even then, they powered on to 140 after 30 overs and looked set to launch a massive push. But Chloe Tryon made the big breakthrough by dismissing Suzie Bates for 66, off 84 balls (9×4), which applied the brakes on a runaway score.

Amy Satterthwaite became the first of Kapp’s three victims, having scored 47 off 66 and only Sam Curtis (19) and Natalie Dodd (21) made any meaningful contribution. Five of the other seven bowlers picked up a wicket apiece.

Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix