All-rounder Chloe Tryon was the chief architect of South Africa's win as she top-scored with a 34-ball 40 to take their total to a competitive 132 for six after a top-order collapse at the Boland Park here on Monday.Tryon (3-0-12-2) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (4-0-10-3) then formed a deadly combination in a sensational display of left-arm spin bowling that choked the chase of White Ferns who were bundled out for 67.
The win also boosted South Africa's net run rate (1.550) as they jumped to third place behind leaders Sri Lanka and Australia in the Group 1 table.
The top-two teams will qualify for the semifinals.Having endured two losses on the trot, New Zealand remained at the bottom of the table and are potentially out of the last-four race.Smarting from a defeat to Sri Lanka in the tournament-opener, South Africa won a good toss and hoped to follow the lead set by Ireland and England in the earlier game on this ground, which saw runs flow during both powerplays.But the script unfolded differently in the home team's case.
New Zealand had a spin-first approach and off-spinner Eden Carson (4-0-23-2) struck in the fourth ball of the match, trapping Tazmin Brits LBW for one.