NZ vs SA 1st T20I Highlights: Connon Esterhuizen top-scored for South Africa in their nervy pursuit of 92 runs. The wicketkeeper batter, opening the innings, scored 45 runs in 48 balls and remained not out to seal the win for the visitors as they took a 1-0 lead in the series.
South Africa started timidly with the bat in the second innings in their pursuit of the target. It was a mixed power play for the two teams as the Proteas lost two wickets inside the first five overs. However, they finished the sixth over on a high with a couple of boundaries from Connor Esterhuizen.
Earlier, New Zealand were stunned in their own backyard by South Africa in the first innings. Gerald Coetzee set the tone with his opening spell, picking up the wickets of the two openers. Ottneil Baartman struck twice in his opening over to put South Africa firmly in the driving seat. Baartman dismissed Tim Robinson and debutant Nick Kelly in the fourth over of the clash. Debutant Nqobani Mokoena picked up three wickets while skipper Keshav Maharaj picked up a couple as well, including his opposite number, Mitchell Santner.
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. As many as five players from across the two teams are making their debut in the clash.
Mitchell Santner and Keshav Maharaj will lead their respective teams as New Zealand and South Africa meet again, 11 days after playing each other in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026. Such is the quick turnaround between the two games that the pain inflicted by Finn Allen on the Proteas would be fresh. The good news for the visitors is that Allen, who scored the fastest century in the T20 World Cup history, is not part of the squad. There will be fresh faces for both teams as they prepare for the Olympics and T20 World Cup in 2028.
The hosts, New Zealand, were responsible for breaking South Africa’s winning streak in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Kiwis defeated the Rainbow Nation in the semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata thanks to a record-breaking century from Finn Allen. The right-handed batter scored a 33-ball ton to make a mockery of the chase in the second innings. However, as the Kiwis take the field in this first T20I of the tour, they will find them without the services of Allen as well as his opening partner, Tim Seifert.
Devon Conway, who was on the bench for the Blackcaps during the T20 World Cup, could open the innings alongside Tom Latham. The bowling attack led by Mitchell Santner could feature regular starters like Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, and Cole McConchie.
South Africa would be cursing themselves for losing that semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026. If there was any team that looked as strong or at times stronger than the Men in Blue, it was the Proteas led by Aiden Markram. India’s only defeat in the tournament came against South Africa in the Super 8. However, losing the toss in Kolkata proved to be fatal as the Proteas were eliminated. There will be new faces among the South African lineup, with most of the regulars missing out on this series.
Keshav Maharaj, the skipper for the series, screams as the only common player from the team that took on New Zealand in the semi-final. The batting unit will feature the likes of Tony de Zorzi and Jason Smith. George Linde and Wiaan Mulder will take up the all-rounder roles, as South Africa try out different players.
Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway (wk), Tim Robinson, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Josh Clarkson, Bevon Jacobs, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Cole McConchie, Dane Cleaver, Nick Kelly, Ben Sears, Katene D Clarke, Jayden Lennox, Zakary Foulkes
Keshav Maharaj (C), Tony de Zorzi, Jason Smith, Jordan Hermann, 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 12 of the 20 T20Is these teams have played against each other. However, that one loss in the semi-final in Kolkata would hurt them the most.
Connor Esterhuizen finished this nervy chase for South Africa with a six on the fourth ball of the 17th over. The Proteas win by seven wickets with 20 balls to spare.
South Africa are now only 11 runs away from taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
The New Zealand bowlers have put on a performance that they can be proud of. They have stretched this second innings to the 15th over and has kept themselves within an outside chance of causing an upset while defending only 91 runs.
Defending only 91 runs, Mitchell Santner has bowled a spell that he will be proud of, despite the result. The skipper for the Kiwis gave away only eight runs in his four overs as the South African batters found it extremely challenging to play the left-arm spinner. Santner also picked up the wicket of Jason Smith in his spell.
New Zealand bowlers have done well to stretch this game so far. But with seven wickets in hand, South Africa will be the favorites to chase the target. The visitors need 29 runs in nine overs to take a 1-0 lead.
Mitchell Santner picked up his first wicket with some fine bowling and equally commendable work behind the stumps. The left-arm spinner dismissed Jason Smith on his first ball of the second over with Tom Latham stumping him out.
Ben Sears has been a huge positive for New Zealand so far in the clash, the right-arm pacer has given away only nine runs in his two overs and has kept the South African batters on their toes.
A huge six from Connor Esterhuizen in the sixth over sent the ball on the roof of the Bay Oval. A replacement ball was needed as South Africa finished power play on a high.
Rubin Hermann had seemed to have gotten going with a six in the fifth over. However, Kyle Jamieson had the last laugh as he dismissed the left-handed batter thanks to a brilliant catch from Tom Latham behind the stumps.
New Zealand have controlled the flow of runs so far but in their defence of 91 runs it is the wickets that they need to ensure they have any say in this clash. The hosts have not managed to break the second-wicket stand with the two South African batters taking their time.
South Africa are finding it hard to get things going in this short chase of 92 runs. The Proteas have not started with any confidence, despite a fantastic bowling effort. Both batters at the crease are finding it hard to rotate the strike rest alone hit boundaries in the power play.
Zakary Foulkes has got the wicket that New Zealand were searching for. Defending only 91 runs, the hosts know they need wickets up front to make this clash interesting. Foulkes dismissed de Zorzi with his fourth ball to pick up the first wicket.
Tony de Zorzi’s thigh pad kicked things off for South Africa in the second innings with a boundary off leg-byes in the first over. Kyle Jamieson was on the receiving end.
Jordan Hermann will not open the innings for South Africa after injuring his finger while fielding in the first innings.
The New Zealand batters have been put out of their misery with debutant Nqobani Mokoena picking up his third and the final wicket of the innings. The Kiwis have been bowled out for only 91 runs. The visitors need 92 runs to take a 1-0 lead in this five-match T20I series.
Keshav Maharaj picks up his second wicket of the clash as the New Zealand batters are falling down like nine pins.
It did not take Nqobani Mokoena to pick up his second international wicket as he dismissed Zakary Foulkes in the same over.
The last hope for New Zealand is finished as debutant Nqobani Mokoena picked up his first T20I wicket. The medium pacer dismissed Neesham with the first ball of his second spell. The Kiwis are facing an uphill task to make it to even a triple-digit score.
New Zealand’s innings is not going anywhere despite some lusty blows from James Neesham. The hosts are tottering away at 80 for six after 12 overs. They will need to finish big in the last eight overs to set a respectable target for the South African batters.
Keshav Maharaj, bowling his second over, got rid of his opposite number, rattling the stumps. The left-arm spinner bowled a much slower delivery, outfoxing Santner, who was into his shot early and missed the ball completely.
Playing his first international match, Dian Forrester, right-arm pacer, came into the attack to bowl the ninth over. The 25-year-old gave away only four runs in his first international over.
Skipper, Keshav Maharaj, brought himself into the attack and was greeted with a four from James Neesham. New Zealand’s two most experienced players, Neesham and Mitchell Santner, are on the crease as they look to rebuild after losing half their side.
South Africa picked up their fifth wicket inside the power play as New Zealand’s batting innings continues to slump. After a great performance from the pacers in their opening spells, the fielders too have fired up. Rubin Hermann struck a direct hit at the non-striker end to send Bevon Jacobs back to the pavilion.
Has Ottneil Baartman finished this game in his first over??? The South African pacer struck twice in his first over. After dismissing Tim Robinson, Baartman sent debutant Nick Kelly back to the dugout. At the fall of the fourth wicket, Mitchell Santner made his way to the crease.
It is starting to look pretty gloomy for the New Zealand supporters as the Blackcaps lost their third wicket inside the power play. Ottneil Baartman got rid of Tim Robinson with only his second legal delivery of the match. Robinson was looking to up the ante by playing slog downtown. However, the Kiwi batter did not manage any elevation, giving George Linde a forward-diving catch.
Gerald Coetzee has sent the two New Zealand openers back to the dressing room in only his second over. The right-arm speedster is getting the new ball to swing. He trapped Latham in front of the stumps with an in-swinger.
New Zealand have been stunned with an early setback, losing their talismanic opener, Devon Conway, in the first over. For South Africa, debutant Nqobani Mokoena is sharing the new ball with Coetzee from the opposite end. Tim Robinson got off the mark with a boundary on his first ball. Latham, too, struck a boundary in the second over as the hosts begin their rebuilding phase.
Gerald Coetzee struck with the new ball for South Africa. The right-arm pacer started his spell with the wicket of Devon Conway on the final ball of the over. The Kiwi batter was sent back to the dugout after scoring only one run in his five-ball stay.
Tom Latham and Devon Conway will be opening the innings for the Kiwis.
Nick Kelly for New Zealand will be making his debut in the shortest format. Meanwhile, Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena will be playing their first international match for the Proteas.
South Africa have won 12 T20Is against New Zealand. The Blackcaps on the other hand have managed to topple the Proteas eight times in the shortest format.
Devon Conway, Tom Latham (wk), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (C), Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears
Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Jordan Hermann, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (C), Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first at Bay Oval.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the New Zealand vs South Africa 1st T20I match all the way from Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand!
