The stage is set for a high-stakes 50-over battle as New Zealand Women host South Africa Women for a three-match ODI series. Following a dominant 4–1 victory for the White Ferns in the recently concluded T20I series, the visitors will be desperate to reclaim their footing in a format where they have traditionally shown more consistency. This series is part of the ICC Women’s Championship, making every match vital for direct qualification for the 2029 ODI World Cup.

Fresh off an incredible T20I series—including a career-best 105 off 55 balls* in the final game—Amelia Kerr is the undisputed player to watch. As the newly minted captain, she has led from the front with both bat and ball. The White Ferns enter this series with massive momentum, having swept their previous ODI series against Zimbabwe 3–0 earlier this month.

While the Proteas struggled in the T20Is, they are a formidable ODI unit. They reached the final of the 2025 Women’s World Cup and recently defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets during that tournament. Captain Laura Wolvaardt will look to recreate that success, relying on the memory of Tazmin Brits’ match-winning century against the Ferns in Indore last October.

Schedule of WODI series

• 1st ODI: March 29 – 2.00 pm local time/ 6.30 am GMT/ 1.00 am IST
• 2nd ODI: Apr 1 – 11.00 am local time/ 10.00 pm GMT/ 03.30 am IST
• 3rd ODI: Apr 4 – 11.00 am local time/ 10.00 pm GMT/ 03.30 am IST

Also READ: Jess Kerr, Sophie Devine power New Zealand to series-clinching win over South Africa in 4th T20I

Squads

New Zealand Women: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr (c), Izzy Sharp, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Nensi Patel, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing, Kayley Knight, Flora Devonshire

South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Kayla Reyneke, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Anneke Bosch, Karabo Meso

Broadcast and Live Streaming details

• India: FanCode
• New Zealand: Sky Go app, Sky Sports Now
• South Africa: SuperSport

Also READ: Amelia Kerr’s blistering century leads New Zealand to dominant triumph over South Africa in 5th T20I

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

The United States on Saturday released video footage showing its strikes on Iranian naval vessels, as the conflict across the Middle East continued to widen.Shared by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, the footage showed missiles being fired from warships in the region, fighter jets taking off from aircraft carrier decks, and precision strikes on Iranian targets.“For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global shipping in regional waters, but those days are over,” CENTCOM said.The footage was released days after the United States said it had crossed 10,000 strikes in its ongoing military campaign and that operations were “on plan or ahead of plan”.US Central Command chief Brad Cooper said the operation, now in its fourth week, had overwhelmed Iran’s air defence systems and was producing visible results.“We hit the 10,000th Iranian target just hours ago. And if you combine what we’ve accomplished with the success of our Israeli ally, together we have struck thousands more, clearly demonstrating that we’re stronger together. Our precision strikes have overwhelmed Iranian air defences and our combat flights over Iran are having tangible effects.”Cooper also said the campaign had significantly weakened Iran’s naval capabilities, claiming most of its major warships had been destroyed.“For decades, Iranian warships have roamed regional waters, threatening and harassing global shipping. But those days are over because we’ve now destroyed 92 percent of the Iranian Navy’s largest vessels. They’re not sailing, and my operational assessment is that they’ve now lost the ability to meaningfully project naval power and influence around the region and around the world,” he said.Separately, a US official told Reuters that an Iranian missile and drone strike on the Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia wounded 12 American personnel, including two seriously, and damaged military equipment.The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes and has since disrupted global energy supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day.Iran’s ability to threaten shipping has also added to volatility in oil and commodity markets.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Centre is “committed to safeguard the Indian people” as the government stepped up monitoring of energy supplies and essential commodities amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.In a post on X after chairing a high-level review, Singh wrote: “A meeting of an IGoM (Informal Group of Ministers) constituting several senior ministers was held today to review the risks to energy supplies, domestic availability of essential commodities, critical infrastructure resilience and robustness of India’s supply chains in the wake of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.”He added, “There was in-depth discussion on all the measures being taken by the Government of India. The NDA Government under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi is closely monitoring the situation and it is committed to safeguard the Indian people from any impact of the conflict.”The meeting marked the first formal review by the informal Group of Ministers as concerns grow globally over supply disruptions linked to the conflict. Officials assessed vulnerabilities across fuel supplies, logistics networks and key infrastructure, even as the government continued to reassure citizens over availability.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting with chief ministers and lieutenant governors, focusing on preparedness and coordination between the Centre and states. He called for vigilance and a unified approach, drawing parallels with India’s handling of past global disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic.The Prime Minister said the situation remains dynamic and requires constant monitoring, noting that an inter-ministerial mechanism has already been reviewing developments on a daily basis. He stressed that maintaining energy security, stabilising trade, and protecting citizens remain top priorities.Singh, during the discussions, also pointed to measures being taken to ease pressure on households, including ensuring timely LPG availability and reducing excise duties on petrol and diesel. He urged states and Union Territories to work closely with the Centre to ensure seamless implementation on the ground.The Centre has maintained that there is no immediate shortage of fuel or essential goods, while the ministry of external affairs continues to monitor the safety of Indian nationals in the region.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s players huddle (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Bengaluru: Ten months after the last Indian Premier League match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, cricket returned to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home turf on Saturday with renewed vigour — and a reworked match-day experience for fans.Yet, amid the buzz, memories of last year’s tragedy lingered. The 11 seats dedicated to those who lost their lives during RCB’s victory celebrations stood out — encased within a picket fence and adorned with floral motifs against a white backdrop — a quiet reminder in a charged atmosphere.