NZ vs SA 5th T20I Live Score and Updates: South Africa continued their dominance over New Zealand in the shortest format as they clinched the five-match series. The Proteas, having lost two of the first three games, made a stunning comeback in the series. Connor Esterhuizen with the bat played a huge role as the visitors won back-to-back games to win the series.
The South African bowlers carried all the momentum from the first innings and struck twice in the power play. Wiaan Mulder and Ottneil Baartman dismissed Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver, respectively. New Zealand continued to implode and lost the plot thanks to some careless running. Keshav Maharaj and Baartman struck again as the Blackcaps failed in the second innings.
Earlier, South Africa finished with 187 runs on the board after the first innings. Wicketkeeper-batter, Connor Esterhuizen, played a blinder for South Africa. The right-hander dealt in boundaries during his 33-ball stay at the crease.
SA vs NZ Toss Update: New Zealand won the toss in the crucial series decider and opted to bowl first at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
New Zealand’s leading run-scorers in the series, Devon Conway and Tom Latham, missed out on the previous game. While Conway will miss the series-decider as he prepares for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Latham was ruled out of the fifth T20I after a minor to his thumb. The Kiwis are without their regular captain, Mitchell Santner, for the last two games as he has already joined the Mumbai Indians before the IPL 2026. The hosts could field a lone-man spin-attack featuring Cole McConchie. In the absence of regular bowling attack leaders like Santner, Matt Henry, and Ish Sodhi, the hosts will turn to Ben Sears to continue his fine form. The right-arm pacer has already picked up six wickets in the series so far.
For South Africa, the ongoing series has been a medium to test players from the domestic circuit. They have successfully tested some of the young prospects. Connor Esterhuizen has been one of the revelations of the tour for the Proteas. The right-handed batter is leading the run-scoring charts, having scored 125 in four games. Esterhuizen has been the top scorer for South Africa in the two games they have won in the series.
In the bowling department, skipper Keshav Maharaj and Gerald Coetzee have been crucial. Both of the bowlers have picked up six wickets each. However, it is Coetzee, with an economy of only 6.47 runs per over, who has managed to exert a lot of pressure on the New Zealand batters.
James Neesham (C), Katene Clark, Tim Robinson (wk), Dane Cleaver, Bevon Jacobs, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Zakary Foulkes, Cole McConchie, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Jayden Lennox
Keshav Maharaj (C), Tony de Zorzi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Prenelan Subrayen, Dian Forrester, Gerald Coetzee, Ottneil Baartman, Lutho Sipamla, Rubin Hermann, Andile Simelane, Nqobani Mokoena
South Africa holds a massive lead when it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams. The Proteas have won 14 of the 24 T20Is these teams have played against each other.
South Africa have emerged victorious and have won the series at Christchurch. The Proteas won the series decider by 33 runs thanks to an incredible batting performance from Connor Esterhuizen.
Gerald Coetzee picked up a couple of wickets in his final over. The right-arm pacer dismissed Josh Clarkson and Cole McConchie.
New Zealand’s poor form and losing streak against South Africa will continue. The Blackcaps have never won a bilateral series against the Proteas in the shortest format. Leading the series after the first three games, the hosts would have backed themselves to change history. However, missing key players meant that the task at hand proved to be too difficult for them.
Ottneil Baartman has once again provided a crucial breakthrough. Starting his second spell, the right-arm pacer dismissed Bevon Jacobs in the 16th over. Jacobs was looking like the dangerous batter in the middle having scored 36 runs in 18 balls before his dismissal.
South Africa would feel that they have one hand on the trophy. Having lost two of the first three games, the Proteas have made a sensational comeback in the series. With the required rate almost 15 runs per over, it would take a miracle from New Zealand to make a game out of this.
James Neesham has struggled massively with the bat in hand. right-handed batter has managed only seven runs off 11 deliveries in the innings.
The spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Prenelan Subrayen has choked the batters from New Zealand. The hosts have not managed to attack the two bowlers. In their five overs they have gonly for only 31 runs.
Nick Kelly struck a four on the first ball after the drinks break and it felt like he would finally turn his innings around. However, he was dismissed on the very next ball by Keshav Maharaj as New Zealand find themselves in deep trouble.
New Zealand’s innings is not going anywhere. The required run rate seems to be getting out of hand for the hosts.
New Zealand gifted their third wicket in the ninth over. Tim Robinson was run out while attempting a non-existing second run.
Prenelan Subrayen came into the attack in the eighth over. The right-arm off-spinner gave away only seven runs in his first over.
It took Ottneil Baartman only four balls to create an impact in the innings. The right-arm pacer dismissed Dane Cleaver after the latter had hit a couple of fours in the fourth over.
George Linde’s first over turned out to be lengthier than he would have hoped. The left-arm spinner coming in to bowl the fifth over gave away three wides.
Dane Cleaver, with much-needed boundaries, gets the New Zealand innings running. The right-handed batter struck two fours in the fourth over off Mulder’s bowling.
The required rate for New Zealand is already inching closer to 10 runs per over. The hosts would need to take advantage of the fielding restrictions in the next three overs to remain in this clash.
South Africa are on top of the Kiwis after the first couple of overs. The Proteas, after finishing on a high with the bat in hand in the first innings, took a crucial wicket in the second over.
Wiaan Mulder broke the opening stand in his first over. The all-rounder after a disappointing performance in the first innings dismissed Katene Clarke on the third ball of the second over.
Tim Robinson and Katene Clarke walk out for New Zealand in pursuit of the target of 188 runs.
South Africa finished with 187 runs in the first innings. Connor Esterhuizen was the star performer with the bat in hand for the Proteas, scoring 75 runs in only 33 balls. His knock powered the visitors to score at least 10-15 runs more than what they would have imagined at the halfway mark of the innings.
A prolific knock from Connor Esterhuizen came to an end. The right-handed batter was dismissed on the fourth ball of the final over after scoring 75 runs in 33 balls. He was dismissed by Ben Sears after playing a knock that could very well decide the fate of this series. During his stay at the crease, Esterhuizen smashed six sixes and five fours.
Amidst a powerful batting performance, Zakary Foulkes has bowled a highly economical spell. Foulkes, having bowled three overs in the power play, bowled the 18th over and finished his quota of four overs giving away only 22 runs.
Connor Esterhuizen reached his half-century on the final ball of the 18th over. The wicketkeeper batter reached the milestone in 25 balls. His batting in the last two overs will determine South Africa’s score at the end of the innings.
Connor Esterhuizen is playing a knock that will impress many in the South African management unit. The wicketkeeper batter is only one run shy of a fiery half-century. He has already hit four sixes and three fours.
Ben Sears has picked up his seventh wicket of the series. He dismissed Rubin Hermann with the first ball of his second spell. But it was a wicket that belonged to Nick Kelly for a fantastic one-handed catch. Fortunately for South Africa, Connor Esterhuizen is still at the crease.
South Africa will be eyeing a score in excess of 170 after the start they have had in the first innings. The Proteas would know if Esterhuizen manages to stay for a few more overs they can set a daunting target to the Kiwis.
South Africa have managed to up the ante even after Wiaan Mulder’s dismissal. Connor Esterhuizen, coming to the crease, has made sure that the run rate is consistently above 7.5 runs per over. The wicketkeeper batter is scoring at a strike rate of more than 180, having hit a couple of fours and a six so far in the innings.
Connor Esterhuizen, having been named the player of the match in the previous game, came to bat at number four. The wicketkeeper batter is off to a start thanks to a six on the fifth ball he faced.
The drinks break, as it often does, has resulted in a wicket. Josh Clarkson, who did not bowl a single delivery in the two games he played in the series, struck with his first ball. The medium pacer dismissed Mulder on the first ball of the 11th over.
Wiaan Mulder and Rubin Hermann have rebuilt for South Africa after an early strike from New Zealand. At the halfway stage of the innings, the visitors have scored 76 runs with both batters on the crease having settled. They would look to aim big and stretch this partnership. Meanwhile, the Kiwis would know that breaking this partnership is crucial.
Wiaan Mulder has been given a second chance by Katene Clark. The young Kiwi batter dropped a sitter in the ninth over, resulting in a six. To make matters worse for the hosts, Mulder struck another six on the very next ball. Rubin Hermann struck a four to end the expensive over.
James Neesham brought himself into the attack to bowl the eighth over. The stand-in skipper was struck for a four on the second ball of the over and bowled a wide on the following delivery. However, he made a strong comeback in the over giving away only two runs.
The experiment to have Wiaan Mulder at the top of the order is not working for South Africa at all. The all-rounder has scored only 10 runs in 14 balls after seven overs, striking at 71.4.
New Zealand have ended the power play on top of South Africa. Zakary Foulkes has bowled an impressive spell, giving away only 15 runs in three overs while picking up the opening wicket.
Rubin Hermann has provided a much-needed impetus to the South African innings. Batting at number three, the left-handed batter struck a six and a couple of fours in the fifth over, taking full advantage of fielding restrictions.
Zakary Foulkes has finally been rewarded for his consistent bowling. The right-arm pacer dismissed de Zorzi in the fourth over to pick up an early wicket. De Zorzi had been stuck on his crease and could not score on the previous free hit delivery. South Africa paid the price for allowing the bowlers to bowl consistently at a single batter.
Wiaan Mulder, coming into this game, had recorded two ducks in a row at the top of the order. The South African all-rounder was able to break the rut as he got off the mark on the third ball he faced in the second over. It has been a sedate start to the series-decider. Apart from the two fours by de Zorzi in the first over, only two runs have been scored.
Kyle Jamieson took the new ball for New Zealand. The right-arm pacer playing on his home turf was struck for a couple of fours by de Zorzi in the opening over.
South Africa have decided to stick with Wiaan Mulder at the top of the order, despite repeated failures. The all-rounder will be partnered by Tony de Zorzi, opening the innings.
Cole McConchie and Zakary Foulkes, despite being named in teams from IPL 2026 and PSL 2026, will feature for the Blackcaps. McConchie was named as a replacement for the Rawalpindi Pindiz, while Foulkes was bought by Chennai Super Kings at the IPL 2026 auction.
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver(w), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham(c), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears
South Africa: Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Shukri Conrad talked about how there have been questions raised over the series, with both teams missing a few players. He talked about how the absence of first-choice players has allowed for exposure for emerging players.
The weather in Christchurch is expected to be around 15°C. There will be some humidity, but there are very few chances of any rain at Hagley Oval. Fans can expect a full match in this series-decider clash. However, there is expected to be dew in the second innings as the day progresses. The team winning the toss could be inclined to choose to bowl first.
South Africa holds a lead when it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams. The Proteas have won 14 games while New Zealand has won 10.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the series-decider match between New Zealand and South Africa.
