South Africa suffered a 13-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match of the Commonwealth Games women’s T20 tournament at Edgbaston on Saturday.

The Kiwis posted 167-2 thanks to Suzie Bates’ unbeaten 91 off 64 balls and captain Sophie Devine’s 48 off 40.

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the only South African bowler to pick up a wicket.

In reply, South Africa slumped to 15-2 after four overs, losing openers Anneke Bosch for three and Tazmin Brits for six.

Mignon du Preez (26 off 22) and Laura Wolvaardt (28 off 30) got the innings back on track, before Chloe Tryon (39 off 17) and captain Suné Luus (32 off 18) came together for a good partnership.

It ended in disappointing fashion, though, when Tryon was run out in the 16th over with the team’s total on 116.

Luus was dismissed off the last ball of the 19th over, and 23 runs off the final six balls proved to be far too many for the South Africans.

South Africa’s next match is against England on Tuesday.