Bosch wants SA to ‘not overcomplicate or overthink’ ahead of decider against NZ
SA batter scored career-best 91 in second ODI against NZ in what was her international comeback
ESPNcricinfo staff
Published: Apr 3, 2026, 5:14 AM
Anneke Bosch scored a career-best 91 in the second ODI • Getty Images
Anneke Bosch, who top-scored for South Africa in their defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI on Wednesday, feels “not trying to overcomplicate” things would be her team’s plan in the series-deciding third game on Saturday.
“Just keeping things simple. I think on the field, just sticking to our plans and sticking to the basics, not trying to overcomplicate it or overthink it, and just taking our chances as well – because we let ourselves down in the field a couple of times in this series,” Bosch said on the eve of the match. “A series win is up for grabs, and we really want that, along with the points in the ICC [Women’s] Championship. So, it’s a really important game tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be another good one, and we’ll be better than the previous game.”
South Africa won the first ODI of the series off the last ball, chasing down New Zealand’s 268 with two wickets in hand. It was similarly close in the second game, which New Zealand won by two wickets with two balls left. But it took New Zealand a record-breaking chase in women’s ODIs to get there, as Amelia Kerr starred with an unbeaten 179 off 139 balls to cross South Africa’s 346.
That second game was Bosch’s first in the format since the final of the ODI World Cup last year, and she responded with a 90-ball 91, her career-best effort.
“It’s good to be back. I’m happy and grateful to be back,” she said. “Obviously, when you do get chances, you want to use them. It doesn’t always work out, but you want to make the best of every chance that you get. So, I’m happy that it came off, and hopefully I can contribute again in the future and get the team into good positions.
“It’s never nice being left out or missing out on tours, but I understood why. I think just going home, playing domestic cricket, really working hard and trying my best to dominate there, spending time in the middle, and just enjoying cricket and having fun. At the same time, trying to get better and working on a couple of things, cricket-specific and on the mental side of the game, just to improve in every aspect.”
