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Wicketkeeper Rebecca Rolls emphasised her all-round cricketing qualities as New Zealand overwhelmed South Africa at Jade Stadium.

Rolls, a South Auckland policewoman, plundered 84 runs from 68 balls yesterday to set up a 125-run victory and give New Zealand a 2-0 lead in the three-match women's series. The home side's total of 226 for nine was always beyond the inexperienced tourists. They reached 101 thanks to Alvis Kuylaars and Lavona Lewis, whose 29-run last-wicket stand was the longest in the match.

New Zealand was 108 for five in the 29th over when Rolls, whose previous highest score in 18 appearances was 32, received a rare chance to build an innings. She did not waste it.

``I had to hang around a bit, and am pleased I went on with it. It's hard to get opportunities, especially in this team batting after Debbie (Hockley) and Emily (Drumm). Usually I'm coming in with 10 overs to go,'' she said.

This time Hockley and Drumm had both been run out, and Rolls was feeling guilty that the last four New Zealand wickets fell in similar fashion to a combination of slick fielding, poor communication, and frenetic running.

``We thought we could take them on a bit because they hadn't been hitting the stumps. But they seemed to do it every time today,'' said Rolls.

A series of superb cuts, lofted drives, and blows to mid-wicket brought Rolls 11 fours and two sixes. She is content now to stay in the middle-order, having been tried without success as a pinch-hitting opener against Australia last season.

The distressing sequence of run-outs, and a failure to polish off its opponent, ensures New Zealand has work to do before the Shell Rosebowl series against Australia starts on Sunday.