New Zealand vs South Africa, SA in NZ, 5 T20Is, 2026 Mar 22 Full score card

OUT! TAKEN! It's all over. Gerald Coetzee bangs into the surface, on middle. Jamieson pulls, but even with his height, fails to connect it cleanly. He gets a top edge to square leg, where Ottneil Baartman runs in and slides to hold onto it. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 19 RUNS.

Short in length, around off, climbs a bit towards the batter. Sears pulls off the higher part of the blade to square leg for one.

Serves it very full, outside off. Ben Sears shuffles across to scoop it over but misses.

Three more! Jamieson uses the height again, he sees the shorter delivery around off and lifts it over mid off. Keshav Maharaj runs back, He slides near the ropes, slips in the process but keeps his composure, releasing the ball just in time before touching the boundary cushions. Brilliant presence of mind from Maharaj. Three runs taken. The replay shows Maharaj managed to keep his legs away from the cushion while holding the ball in his hand.

Just over the fielder. Back of a length delivery, outside off. Jamieson makes room and punches on the up over cover. Well over the fielder for a brace.

Right. Last 2 overs coming up. New Zealand need 26 runs from those. Gerald Coetzee to bowl the penultimate over. 3-0-25-2 are his bowling figures so far.

Slightly short, around off. Jamieson pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pushes it full and attacking the stumps. Jamieson eases it with soft hands in front of long on and calls for two. The fielder runs in, slides and throws at the bowler's end but misses. Two runs are taken.

Hard-length delivery, outside off. Sears punches it through covers for a single.

Short in length, outside off, angling in. Ben Sears swings his blade across and misses.

A huge appeal for LBW, probably going down. Keshav Maharaj takes the review. UltraEdge shows no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows it clips the bails of the leg pole. Umpire's call it is. A good length delivery, a scrambled seam and nipping on leg. Ben Sears looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Back of a length, outside off. Kyle Jamieson punches it through covers for a single.

And again. Gerald Coetzee bowls into the surface, around off. Ben Sears hops and defends around the corner.

Short of a length, around off. Ben Sears hops and taps under his eyes.

Serves it full and outside off. Ben Sears pushes it to mid off.

Ben Sears is the last man in for the hosts. New Zealand need 31 runs from 21 balls.

OUT! TAKEN! Gerald Coetzee strikes. A proper bouncer, outside off, gets a bit of extra bounce off the surface. Josh Clarkson tries to pull it away but outside edges it to the keeper. Connor Esterhuizen runs to his right and holds onto it. Gerald Coetzee slams his head with both hands in celebration. New Zealand are 134/9 down now.

Keeps it full and sliding onto the pads. Josh Clarkson whips it to deep square leg for two more. No boundaries but these two are just doing enough to keep South Africa in the game.

Touch fuller and angling in on leg. Josh Clarkson clips it to deep mid-wicket. Jamieson hesitates for the second run but Josh pushes for it. Two taken.

35 needed from 24 balls and here's Gerald Coetzee into the attack again. 2-0-21-1 are his bowling figures.

That is streaky. Maharaj floats one up, slower and wider outside off. Clarkson reaches out to drive but gets a thick under-edge. The ball squirts through, nutmegs Esterhuizen and scurries away to deep fine leg. Baartman has to give long chase in the deep, but the batters read it well and pinch three from an awkward shot.

Is there still life left in this run chase? Pretty much. Jamieson is no mug with the bat and can strike a few big ones in the crowd. But can he this time around?

Wide! Serves it very full and wide of off. Josh Clarkson leaves it alone.

Good length delivery on middle. Jamieson drills it down to long on for a run.

Very full and sliding onto the pads. Kyle Jamieson flicks it through square leg for a couple of runs.

Slower in the air, shorter delivery and comes with the arm, outside off. Josh Clarkson cuts it through point for a single.

Angles in a fuller delivery, outside off. Josh Clarkson knocks it back to the bowler.

Tossed up, full and outside off. Josh Clarkson drives it to cover.

Last 5 overs coming up. Keshav Maharaj (3-0-13-2) to bowl out.

Full and around off, Josh Clarkson pushes this through mid off for a run.

Good length, on middle and leg, Kyle Jamieson pushes this through mid on for a single.

And the procession continues for the Black Caps. They have lost wickets at regular intervals and are staring down to a defeat now. They need 45 more runs from 32 balls, with just 2 wickets in hand. Kyle Jamieson walks in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ottneil Baartman goes short and bangs it into the batter. Zakary Foulkes doesn't get the room he was after to free his arms and ends up top-edging this over the keeper. Connor Esterhuizen settles himself underneath it and holds onto a regulation catch.

WIDE! Bumper, a bit too high on the batter. Zakary Foulkes goes for a hook but misses. Wided.

Short and on off, Zakary Foulkes tucks this to mid-wicket for no run.

SIX! High and handsome. Ottneil Baartman goes short and bangs it into the batter. Zakary Foulkes goes for a pull but mistimes it and ends up getting a top-edge that lobs over the keeper. Connor Esterhuizen makes no mistake and takes it nice and clean.

Back of a length, around off, Zakary Foulkes punches this to covers for a dot.

Full and around leg, Zakary Foulkes gets it away to deep square leg for a single.

The inexperienced batting order has been wiped out. We are into the tail-enders now. Zakary Foulkes comes out to bat.

OUT! TIMBER! This game has turned upside down since the break. Keshav goes wide of the crease and bowls a quicker one, into the batter. Cole McConchie goes for a cut but doesn't move his feet anywhere. Ends up getting beaten with the ball crashing into his stumps. From 76/2, New Zealand have slipped spectacularly to 112/7.

Fuller onto the pads, Josh Clarkson flicks this through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Darted around off, Josh Clarkson goes for a square cut but ends up edging this off the inside onto his pads.

Josh Clarkson is the next batter in. New Zealand need 54 more runs from 40 balls.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nelson strikes for the Proteas and things are getting really interesting in Wellington now. Under-cutter, around middle and off, going across the batter. Nick Kelly goes down on a knee and looks for the slog sweep but doesn't get right underneath it. Ends up hitting this straight into the hands of Rubin Hermann at deep mid-wicket fence for a regulation catch. New Zealand are 111/6.

Darted into the batter, around middle and leg, Nick Kelly pumps this back to the bowler.

Keshav Maharaj is back on. 12 runs off his two overs so far.

FOUR! Another boundary to end the over. A good one for New Zealand as they get 15 off it. On a length, around off, Cole McConchie opens the face of his bat and guides this through the backward point region for a boundary.

Good length, onto the pads, Nick Kelly flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

On a length, slanting down the leg, Nick Kelly goes for a flick off his front foot but gets it edged off the inside onto his pads for no run. Kelly was keen on the single but Cole denied that and rightly so as the ball was right around silly point.

FOUR! Just a casual lofted drive for four. Back of a length, around off, Nick Kelly presses in front and goes in with a lofted drive over the fielder at extra cover for a boundary.

WIDE! Good length, wide down the leg. Wided.

Good length, on middle and leg, Cole McConchie punches this down to long on for one.

FOUR! Pitched up, around off, Cole McConchie prods onto his front foot and drives this through the covers region for a boundary. This brings up the 100 for New Zealand​​​​​​!

A real toe-crusher from Baartman, on the leg stump. Cole McConchie jams the bat down in time and clips it behind square on the leg side for a single. Phew! What an adventurous over this was. New Zealand need 69 runs from 48 balls.

It has all gone south for the hosts post the break. Cole McConchie walks out next to bat for New Zealand.

OUT! TAKEN THIS TIME! Coetzee redeems himself and Baartman finally gets his man. Short of a good length, angling across Neesham from middle stump. He goes for the big heave across the line and gets a leading edge for the third time in the same over. The ball soars high up into the night sky and Coetzee at deep third has all the time in the world to settle underneath it and take a good catch. Third time unlucky for Neesham. The lives have finally run out. New Zealand lose their most experienced batter in Neesham and are 95/5, still requiring 70 runs from 49 balls.

Pitched slightly up, on the stumps. Neesham stabs it back to the bowler.

IN THE AIR AND PUT DOWN AGAIN! But to be fair to the Subrayen, this was a tough chance. Length ball around leg and Neesham looks to flick it away on the leg side once again, but he loses his shape completely, gets a leading edge and the ball balloons up in the air. Subrayen is running back from backward point, gets two hands to it and puts it down. He cannot hold on. Two lifelines in two balls for Neesham. They cross for a couple of more runs. Only time will tell how costly will these two dropped catches prove to be for the Proteas.

DROPPED! A complete misjudgment from Coetzee at deep third. Back of a length, nipping away from off. James Neesham shapes up to whip it over the leg side, but manages only a thick leading edge that flies back to the right of the deep third fielder. Gerald Coetzee is a bit late to react and runs to his right, dives forward, but fails to grab it. Two taken.

Full and straight on off. James Neesham gets on the front foot and eases it to extra cover.

Serves it up there, full and on leg, James clips it with soft hands to the mid-wicket region for another quick run.

Off break, on a length, outside off. Nick Kelly is rushed onto the back foot and cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Good length, straight on middle, and Kelly pushes forward looking to work it away. But Subrayen reads it early, gets across to his left and cuts it off on the follow-through.

Slows it up on a length, on the fourth stump. Neesham smartly dabs it late to short third for a quick single.

Length ball coming in with the arm, Neesham eases it into the off side.

Skipper, James Neesham, walks out to bat next.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Almost a carbon copy of the previous wicket and Subrayen has two to his name on debut. Darts it very full by keeping the line of attack on the stumps. Bevon Jacobs clears the front leg and tries to drive it straightish but misses to get bat on the ball. It whistles past the outside edge and makes an absolute mess of the furniture behind. From 76/2, New Zealand are now reduced to 88/4. They need 77 from 59 balls.

DRINKS! New Zealand are well on course to win this contest and in some style after a fiery start from their top-order. The hosts now need to just negate any chance of a comeback by the opposition right after the break. South Africa, on the other hand, would be hoping that the break does them a favor and breaks the rhythm the Kiwis are in.

FOUR! Genuinely classic shot! Maharaj pushes it fuller and around off. Nick Kelly leans on the front foot and carves it powerfully to the deep extra cover fence for four runs. At halfway, New Zealand are 88/3, needing 77 more runs from 60 balls.

Too full, outside leg. Kelly flicks it to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

At the stumps on a fuller length, this is knocked down to long on for a single.

A big appeal for LBW, but it dies down as the umpire shakes his head in denial. Fired fuller and lands just outside leg, Nick Kelly gets down to slog sweep, but is certainly beaten by the pace. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and rolls off the thigh pad to the leg side to square leg for a leg bye. The Ball Tracking shows later that the ball is pitching outside leg.

In-drifter on a fuller length, on middle. Jacobs is sucked onto the front foot to block, but inside edges it to backward square leg for a single.

A touch short, on middle and leg. Kelly mistimes the pull shot on the bounce to the right of deep square leg for a single.

Brilliantly bowled! Short and it slides across the batter with the arm from around the stump. Bevon Jacobs is squared up as he tries to block it straight, but the ball fizzes past the outside edge to beat him all ends up. Just 3 runs and a wicket from this over.

Slows it up, on a good length, sliding onto the pads. Kelly hangs back and nudges it to deep square leg for one.

Arm ball, on a length, on middle. Kelly backs away and taps it to point.

Full and around off, driven off the front foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Bevon Jacobs walks out at 4 for New Zealand.

OUT! BOWLED! Exceptional bowling from Subrayen and he gets the reward with his maiden T20I wicket. Full and straight at over 100 kph. Cleaver gets forward looking to swing it through the leg side, clears his front leg to create the angle, but the ball is fired full into leg and middle and crashes into the stumps before bat can come down. Cleaver misses and the stumps are rattled. South Africa absolutely needed that and they have got it. New Zealand are 76/3, needing 89 more runs to win from 70 balls.

A bit fuller, on leg, Nick clips it to widish long on for an easy single.

Slows up the pace, full and on middle. Cleaver nudges it to square leg.

TWO LEG BYES. A bit too full, around off. Cleaver looks to reverse paddle but misses and gets hit on the pads. It rolls towards short third man for a couple of runs.

This one comes with the arm by a long way, touch short and on leg. Cleaver tries to punch but inside edges it to short fine leg.

Bangs into the blockhole, very full and on middle. Cleaver makes room and crunches it to long off for a couple of runs.

Drops it slightly short and on middle. Kelly croutches low and swipes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Loops it full, around off. Nick Kelly punches it to cover.

New Zealand are constantly going at 10s an over and the game is slipping gradually out of South Africa's reach. New Zealand need 95 runs from 78 balls. As the tourists search for wickets, Keshav Maharaj brings himself into the attack now, replacing Gerald Coetzee.

FOUR! Wonderfully played. Fractionally full and angling around off. Cleaver steps away from the line and goes inside-out over point for a boundary. Cleaver is keeping the run rate in check.

Tossed up, in line of the stumps. Cleaver makes room and punches it to cover.

Flatter delivery, outside off, turning away. Kelly slaps it through point for a single.

A bit too short and wide of off. Cleaver picks the width and carves it aerially over point for a single.

Tossed up, fuller and on middle. Nick Kelly eases it down to long on for a single.

Starts with an in-drifter, fuller delivery on leg. Nick Kelly keeps it out on the leg side.

That's the end of the Powerplay. New Zealand's 63/2 meets South Africa's 50/1 at the same stage. No doubt, the hosts are ahead in the game right now, but a couple of quick wickets could get the Proteas back in the game. A very crucial middle over phase coming up. And with that, the debutant, Prenelan Subrayen is into the attack to bowl right-arm spin.

Beauty to start and end the over. Too straight and a bit short, outside off. Cleaver defends inside the line and gets beaten. New Zealand will be happy with the Powerplay as 11 runs come from this one.

SIX! That's even better! The crowd loved that from Dane. On a nagging length delivery, wide outside off. Cleaver shuffles way across the line and paddles it behind square on the leg side for a biggie.

FOUR! Beautifully timed. Short of a length, outside off. Cleaver picks the width and punches it sweetly past cover for a boundary.

This is full and on middle and leg. Nick Kelly nudges it to mid-wicket for a quick single. Oh, dear. George Linde picks up and has a shy at the bowler's end, but instead picks the running Kelly. Luckily, the batter gets hit on the outside part of the thigh pad.

A big wicket for the Proteas, this. Kind of exposes the inexperienced middle order of New Zealand to do the rest of the job. Nick Kelly is in at number 4.

OUT! TAKEN! Coetzee gets the wicket of the set-batter. Bowls in a similar channel, fuller and around off, nipping away a touch. Tim Robinson again tries to whip it against the line but gets a top edge, high in the air and to point where Rubin Hermann takes the skier. New Zealand are 52/2 inside the Powerplay, needing 113 more.

Beauty from Coetzee. Into the surface, tad fuller and on middle, shaping away late. Tim Robinson looks to whip it across the line but it holds its line and rolls past Tim's blade and over the stumps.

Gerald Coetzee (1-0-10-0) is back into the attack to bowl the final Powerplay over. He replaces Baartman.

On a good length, around off, nipping away. Tim Robinson knocks it wide of cover for a quick single.

Touch fuller and around off. Dane pushes it to extra-cover for a single.

SIX! Connects this time. Mulder goes full and drifts it on leg. Easy pickings for Cleaver as he flicks it on the up and over mid-wicket for a six. Fifty up for the hosts.

Hard-length delivery, around leg with some extra pace. Dane Cleaver looks to pull it away but misses.

Did that carry? Oh, yes! Short in length and on middle. Tim Robinson pulls it hard and flat to mid-wicket. George Linde, inside the ring, dives to his right and picks with both hands but fails to hold on. It was hit with absolute power by Robinson. A single taken. A good effort by George Linde, but will go down as a dropped chance.

Beaten. A good length delivery, outside off. Tim Robinson steps across to paddle it away, tries to adjust a bit late but is beaten by the wayward line.

Good length, on off, Tim Robinson drives this to mid off and takes a quick one.

FOUR! Right in the slot for Tim Robinson and he hits this away for four. Over-pitched, around off, Tim Robinson takes a good stride close to the pitch of the ball and smashes this over the extra cover fielder for four more runs.

Ottneil Baartman is struggling with his landing mark and calls for some sawdust. A halt in play...

On a length around off, Tim Robinson drives this down straight to mid off for no run.

Back of a length, on off, Dane Cleaver smashes this through mid on for a single.

Short and on middle and off, Tim Robinson pulls this to deep square leg for one.

FOUR! Tim gets a rub of fortune. On a length, around off, Tim Robinson stays deep inside the crease and pokes at it. Gets a faint inside edge that takes the ball just past the off pole and wide to the left of the keeper as well for a boundary behind the stumps.

LEG BYE! Good length, drifting down the leg. Tim Robinson goes for a flick but misses and gets it deflected off his pads to short third for a leg bye.

Back of a length on off, Tim Robinson hops up on his toes and pushes this in front of Jason Smith at covers. Smith picks up the ball and hits the stumps towards the striker's end with the batter comfortably inside the crease. The ball deflects off the stumps and rolls through square leg, allowing the second run.

Good length, on top of off, Dane Cleaver gets it away off the outside edge through point for a single to get off the mark.

Dane Cleaver walks in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! The opening partnership is put to a halt as the debutant departs. Short and on middle and off, Katene Clarke gets into a good position to pull this over the fence, but fails to get enough power behind it. Clarke hits this straight into the grasp of Rubin Hermann at the deep square leg fence. A couple of yards either side of the fielder could have fetched him a boundary or maybe a six, but he picks up the fielder to perfection. New Zealand are 28/1, chasing 165.

Hard length, on middle and leg, Tim Robinson tucks this through mid on for one more.

Full and around the pads, Katene Clarke flicks this to the right of mid-wicket and takes a single.

WIDE! Good length, down the leg. Katene Clarke goes for a flick but misses out. Wided.

Risk another over from Linde with field restrictions? Nope, Wiaan Mulder replaces him.

Good length, around middle and leg, slanting into the batter. Tim Robinson shuffles across and goes for a ramp but misses out.

Hard length, wide of off, Tim Robinson gets up on his toes and looks for the back foot punch but gets beaten.

Back of a length, on middle and leg, cramping the batter. Tim Robinson gets it away to square leg for a dot.

FOUR! Flicked in the gap for four more. On a length, around middle and off, Tim Robinson steps inside the line and flicks this in the air for a moment but in the gap between mid on and mid-wicket for four runs.

Hard length, on off, Tim Robinson dabs this to point.

SIX! How easy did he make that look? Short-pitched delivery, on off, Tim Robinson presses in front at first and then rocks back as he pulls this right from the middle of his bat for a biggie over the deep square leg fence.

Pace from the other end in the form of Gerald Coetzee.

Quicker one, on off, Katene Clarke pumps this to covers for a dot to close the over. 15 runs off this Linde over. A dream start for the Kiwis.

FOUR! Sweeps this fine and away for four more. Full and around middle and off, Katene Clarke sweeps this through the left of the diving short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! A statement to the rest of the world as Katene starts his T20I career with a boundary. Short and on off, Katene Clarke moves swiftly onto his back foot and slaps this over extra cover for four.

Pushed through on off, Tim Robinson punches this down to long off for one.

FOUR! Fired wide outside the off pole, Tim Robinson goes down on a knee and looks to hit this over covers but gets an outside edge that takes the ball beyond point and races to the fence for four.

Floated on off, Tim Robinson rises with the bounce and punches this past extra cover to his right for a couple to get the chase going.

BEATEN! Intelligent bowling from Ben Sears in the final over as only 2 runs come off it. Hermann shows his cards early as he shuffles to the off side, setting himself up for a scoop. Sears reads it perfectly and sticks to his plan, firing in a yorker in the channel outside off. Hermann cannot lay bat on ball and gets beaten. SOUTH AFRICA FINISH AT 164/5​​​​​​.

At pace now, on a hard length, on the leg stump. George Linde is cramped up for space, tries to pull it across, but misses and the ball rolls off the thigh pad to backward point. They cross for a leg bye.

Misses it again! This has been an excellent last over from Sears so far. Pace off and short, on leg. George Linde shuffles far inside the line and tries to help it behind to the leg side, but fails to get any connection.

Deceptive slower one from Sears, on middle and off, short in length. George Linde clears the front leg, looks for the pull shot but gets beaten.

Very full, on leg, Rubin smashes it to the mid on region for a single. They think for the second, but the fielder is quick to get on the ball, making them settle with a single only.

Deceived! Rolls his fingers on the ball to take all the pace off. On a length, on top of middle. Rubin Hermann tries to pull, but he swings the bat in January and the ball arrives in December, beating him all ends up.

Ben Sears to bowl the last over of this innings.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective! An overpitched delivery, aimed at the sticks. George Linde shuffles across and executes the scoop shot nicely over the keeper's head and gets a boundary. 16 runs from the penultimate over​​. Zakary Foulkes ends his spell with his figures reading 4-0-35-1.

Shoots in a full ball, on the stumps, Linde carves it through the mid on region for a couple of more runs.

From around the stump. This is full and on middle, angling in. George Linde attempts to flick it leg side, but gets a fat leading edge over mid off. Bevon Jacobs runs to his right from long off and intercepts the ball in the deep. Two taken.

FOUR! What a placement! Full from Zakary, on the leg stump. George Linde uses his bottom hand and flicks it off his wrists, bisecting deep mid-wicket and deep square leg fielders for a boundary.

WIDE! Far down the leg side, full in length. Linde lets it through to the keeper. Wide given.

Well-directed short ball, around off. George Linde looks to pull it over the leg side but only manages a thick top edge. The ball flies over the keeper and is chased down by the short third fielder in the deep. Two taken.

Pinpoint yorker, on middle, Rubin flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

George Linde walks out at 7 for South Africa.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Wicket number 2 for Kyle Jamieson. A cross-seam delivery that skids through from a good length, on the stumps. Jason Smith stays put in the crease and attempts to launch it downtown, but doesn't get the whole of it. Slices it toward long off where Tim Robinson judges the trajectory nicely, and times his leap to perfection to grab it just ahead of the boundary ropes. South Africa are 146/5.

DROPPED, and to make things worse, it is a FOUR! Jamieson takes pace off, and lands it outside off, on a good length. It doesn't rise after pitching but Smith carves it over point. Josh Clarkson runs to his right, but puts it down and the ball then rolls back into the fence behind him.

Kyle slips in a full toss that dips below the waist of the batter, outside off. Jason Smith smashes it wide of mid off and they hustle back for the second run as long off chases it to his left.

Slower short delivery, fairly outside off. Jason Smith gets on the toes and tries to uppercut it, but misses to connect.

Fullish in length, slightly outside off. Rubin Hermann knocks it to long off for a single. He is disappointed with himself for not putting that away.

Too full and outside off, Smith carves it down to long off for a single. Smith looks for the second, but there is none on offer and Rubin sends him back on a sharp call.

Kyle Jamieson (3-1-21-1) is back into the attack.

FOUR! He has absolutely smashed that! On a fullish length, slower one by the looks of it, outside off. Rubin Hermann blasts it through the gap between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 15 runs from the over. James Neesham ends his spell with figures of 4-0-49-0.

Smartly bowled! Wide yorker, at pace, outside off. Rubin Hermann fails to carve it out as it whistles past the outside edge.

Full and straight, on off. Smith looks to drive it straightish, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls past the vacant mid on region for a single.

SIX! Oh, that's a superb strike! Pace off at 115.2 kph, short on middle. Smith picks the length and pace off in a trice and nails the pull shot over deep square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! Into the gap! At 125.1 kph, this is banged short, at the ribs. Jason Smith stands tall, rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Slower one, almost a yorker, on middle. Jason Smith tries to carve it out, but inside edges onto the back boot. Luckily for him, the ball rolls just past the off stump and goes to the keeper.

Full and onto the pads, Jason flicks this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slower one, back of a length, around off. Jason goes for a pull but misses out.

Bumper, around off, Jason Smith goes for a pull shot towards square leg but gets beaten.

Ben goes full, wide of off, Jason Smith drives this to point for another dot.

Pitched up, around off, Smith pushes this to mid off for no run.

LEG BYE! On a length, down the leg, Rubin Hermann goes for a flick but misses. The ball clips off the front pad of Rubin and the batters cross as the ball rolls into the backward square leg region.

The next batter in is Jason Smith.

OUT! LBW! Foulkes strikes now and breaks the budding partnership at a very crucial moment. Nails the yorker in the line of the stumps, Dian Forrester goes for a flick but fails to get bat on the ball and gets hit on his back shoe. A gentle appeal from the bowler and the umpire raises his finger. Dian Forrester sends this upstairs for a review. But three reds on the Ball Tracker with the ball thumping into the middle stump confirms the on field decision of OUT. South Africa are 121/4.

Hard length, on off, Dian Forrester dabs this to point for no run.

SIX! High and handsome. On a length, slanting down the leg, Dian Forrester uses the depth of the crease and rocks back before he slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a massive six.

Full and around off, going away from the batter. Rubin Hermann flicks this through mid on for another run.

Back of a length, around middle and off, Dian Forrester pulls this to long on for a single.

Good length, on off, Dian Forrester goes for a cut but doesn't find the right timing on it and ends up chopping this off the under-edge back to the keeper.

A fine spell from Cole McConchie comes to an end. Zakary Foulkes (2-0-11-0) is back on.

Tossed up, around off, Rubin Hermann looks to go big and loft this over covers but ends up pumping this to extra cover on the bounce for no run.

Fired into the batter, Dian Forrester cuts this to sweeper cover for a strike rotation.

Fuller around off, Rubin Hermann drives this down to long off for one.

Top effort in the deep! Short of a length, on middle and off, Rubin Hermann hangs onto the back foot and smashes this down the ground. Katene Clarke puts in a good effort, sliding to his left and palming this just inside the playing area for a couple. The converging long on fielder collects the ball and throws it back to the bowler. The replay confirms that Katene has done a fine job to save two for his side with no part of his body in contact with the ropes while holding the ball. The debutant has been absolutely electric in the field so far and that's what uplifts the spirits of the side.

FOUR! Tossed up, around middle and off, Rubin Hermann gets close to the pitch of the ball and lofts this inside out over the fielder at extra cover for a boundary.

Darted around off, Rubin Hermann looks to cut but misses out.

Cole McConchie is back for his final over. 18 runs and a wicket so far for him.

Low full toss, wide outside off, Rubin Hermann leans towards the flight of the ball and drives this all along the ground through covers for a run.

On a length, around off, Dian Forrester pumps this through mid off for a strike rotation.

Back of a length, on off, Dian Forrester pushes this to mid off for no run.

SIX! Dispatched from the get-go. Short-pitched, on middle and off, Dian Forrester plants his front foot towards his leg and pulls this over the fence towards the deep mid-wicket region for a huge six. 100 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA!

Good length, on off, Rubin Hermann thumps this through mid on for a run.

Short pitched, around middle and off, Dian Forrester mishits the pull through mid-wicket for a single.

In front of the middle stump, on a fractionally fuller length, nipping away a tad bit. Dian Forrester lets the ball arrive and opens the bat face at the point of contact, to the left of point, for a quick single.

Full and a slower one, on off. Rubin laces it through mid off for an easy single.

On a fuller length, outside off, Dian runs it past covers for a single.

In the air... DROPPED! Bevon Jacobs is the guilty party in the deep. Short of a good length, on middle and leg. Rubin Hermann mistimes the pull shot off the top edge towards deep square leg. Bevon Jacobs does cover a good ground to his left from deep backward square leg, even gets his hands on the ball, but it just pops in and out of his palms. A single taken. Jamieson is not happy with that, as that was a regulation chance and should have been taken.

Stump-to-stump now, on a hard length. Rubin Hermann rocks back and stabs it back at the bowler.

SIX! Much needed! Back of a length, on leg, at belly-button height. Rubin Hermann gets on the back foot and nails the pul shot behind deep backward square leg for a 69-meter six.

Tossed up nicely, full and outside off, Rubin Hermann drives it inside out to deep cover for a run.

Drops it short, on off, Rubin Hermann stands tall and punches it to short cover.

Full in length, close to the off stump. Dian Forrester watchfully drives it through cover for a single.

In-angler on a length, on off. Dian hangs back and cuts it straight to point.

Dian Forrester is the next batter in for South Africa.

OUT! TAKEN! Back-to-back wickets for the hosts and Tony de Zorzi's struggling stay comes to an end. McConchie lands it in thereabouts of the off pole, and the length is full. Tony de Zorzi plants his back knee into the pitch and tries to knock it through the covers, with an expansive drive, but fails to keep it along the ground. Hits it flatly to James Neesham at extra cover who takes a sharp catch to his left. From 81/1, South Africa are now 83/3.

Dropped short, outside off, slapped to deep cover for a single.

Back of a length, around off, Rubin Hermann presses back and square cuts it to deep point for a single to get off the mark.

On a length, on off, blocked straight to cover.

DRINKS! It has been a better showing with the bat from the Proteas thus far. Connor Esterhuizen was brilliant with the bat till he lasted and it is now on Tony de Zorzi and the rest to continue building on this platform and keep this momentum going. New Zealand will be hoping to take a few more wickets in quick succession. Rubin Hermann is the next batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Well, it needed some piece of brilliance to halt this knock from Esterhuizen. A sensational catch from Katene Clarke in the deep, which brings this 81-run stand to an end. Esterhuizen gets a back-of-a-length delivery around fourth stump and decides to go for the pull. He stands tall and gets if off the inner half of the blade on it, completely mistiming the shot. Clarke is stationed at deep backward square leg and the ball is dropping in front of him. He sprints forward, launches into a full-length dive and scoops it with both hands. The TV Umpire wants to make sure though. Replays roll in and it is deemed a clean catch with Katene's fingers cleanly underneath the ball. Great commitment from the debutant and Esterhuizen has to go.

Is that clean enough? A Herculean effort from the debutant Katene Clarke as he claims this one. The replay shows that Clarke has taken this cleanly and Connor has to walk back.

FOUR! Quick hands! Short in length, on top of middle and a slower one. Connor Esterhuizen pivots on the back foot, reads the pace off nicely, and pulls it between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

Nagging length, on off, tapped off the back foot to point.

FOUR! Timed and placed to perfection! FIFTY FOR ESTERHUIZEN! His maiden T20I half century, off just 33 balls. Looks at the heavens as he raises his bat for the first time ever in this format. It's been a solid knock so far and he would like to extend this one into a big one. Full and at the toes, with a bit of tail into the batter. Connor Esterhuizen clips it to the leg side and bisects the deep square leg and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary.

Slides one across the batter, short in length from around the stump. Connor Esterhuizen stands tall and knocks it down to long off for a single. So 7 from Cole's second over. His figures read 2-0-15-0 so far.

A touch fuller than the previous one, on off, Tony de Zorzi drags it to the right of long on. Katene Clarke runs across and slides to cut it off. Just a single then.

An arm ball at 102 kph, on a length, outside off, Tony lets it go.

FOUR! Excellent placement! Drops it short now, well outside the off stump. Tony de Zorzi waits on it, presses back and punches it to the left of deep point for a boundary.

Full again, around off, drifting back in. Tony de Zorzi tries to carve it off side, but misses on the inside edge.

Too full, on leg, Esterhuizen clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single. He moves to 47, and as per the on-air commentators, this is Connor Esterhuizen's highest individual score in T20Is now.

Just 7 runs off the over. A slower-length delivery, around off. Esterhuizen plays it down to long off for a single.

Good comeback from the skipper. Goes back to the shorter-length. Esterhuizen tries to pull but the line was bit too close for him to connect.

Another dot! Fires it full and in line with the stumps. Esterhuizen hits it straight, but Neesham bends and stops it.

James Neesham goes full and around off. Esterhuizen stays back and drives it to cover.

Short in length and around off. Tony de Zorzi pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

FLAT SIX! Superb shot. James Neesham continues to bowl it short and into the surface, on middle. Tony de Zorzi makes room and hits with a horizontal bat, flat over extra-cover for a biggie.

James Neesham returns into the attack. Went for 16 runs off his first over. He replaces Zakary Foulkes from this end.

Flatter trajectory, outside off. Tony carves it away through covers and keeps the strike with a single.

Darted on the pads, fuller-length. Esterhuizen flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Solid shot. Cole McConchie bowls the off-cutter, slightly full and straight, around off. Esterhuizen gets low and hammers it down the round for a boundary.

Flights it again, fuller and around off. Tony de Zorzi knocks it to cover for a single.

Loops it up a fuller delivery, slanting on leg. Tony de Zorzi is beaten for the flight as he tries to slog it away.

Cole McConchie starts a bit too full and wide of off. Esterhuizen leans and crunches it to sweeper cover for a single.

That's the end of the Powerplay. Four double digit overs sandwiched between two quiet ones to sum up the field restrictions for both sides. Tony de Zorzi has struggled for timing, but Connor Esterhuizen is batting with fluency, and has scored the bulk in this stand. The good thing for the Proteas is that they haven't lost many wickets which is always a huge positive to build on a good score. As New Zealand look to break this partnership, Cole McConchie is called into the attack now.

Superb final over of the Powerplay from Foulkes. Drops it short and around leg, Tony de Zorzi lets it sail over his head. The bowler gets away with this one.

Excellent again from Zakary. Pace-off, fuller delivery from around the wicket on leg. Tony de Zorzi keeps it out on the leg side.

Oh, a mix-up, but no harm done. Shorter delivery, down leg. Tony de Zorzi stays on the leg side and tries to pull, but mistimes it to short fine leg. The fielder dives to his left and stops. Esterhuizen wanted a single but Tony denies the call.

Zakary Foulkes bowls it slightly short and cramps the batter for room, around leg. Tony de Zorzi gets inside the line to hit it away but miscues it on the off side.

Touch fuller length and on middle, climbs off the surface. Tony de Zorzi forced to play it straight but splices his shot to short third man.

Hard-length delivery on middle. Esterhuizen bunts it in front of mid-wicket for a run. 50 is up for South Africa.

Constant changes in bowling as the hosts search for another breakthrough. Zakary Foulkes (1-0-10-0) is back on, replacing Ben Sears.

On a length and on middle. Esterhuizen nudges it through mid-wicket for a single. 16 runs off the over.

Leg bye! A good length delivery, nipping in from around leg. Tony de Zorzi looks to flick but misses and it rolls off the pads to point for a leg bye.

A slower half-volley from Neesham, on middle. Connor flicks it to square leg for a single.

SIX! Picks it up perfectly. Esterhuizen is on a roll! A bit too straight, full and on the pads. Connor picks up and wrists it away over square leg for a six. 14 runs off half the over.

FOUR! That's more controlled. Short again, a bit into the surface and keeps it wide. Connor Esterhuizen frees his arms and slaps it in the vacant cover region for a boundary.

FOUR! Streaky but South Africa have all the momentum right now. James Neesham bangs it short and bowls outside off. Connor Esterhuizen looks to pull but gets a top edge, over short third man for a boundary.

James Neesham brings himself into the attack, replacing Kyle Jamieson.

Back of a length, around off, Tony de Zorzi hops up on his toes and dabs this to backward point for a dot.

On a length, around the pads, Connor Esterhuizen flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

SIX! Lofted over the fence for a biggie. Pitched-up delivery, around off, Connor Esterhuizen presses in front and goes through with the swing of his bat. Lofts this over the fence towards the long off region and the ball ends up into the stands. Six more to the Proteas and Esterhuizen.

FOUR! Lofted over mid off for four more. Short and on off, Connor Esterhuizen stays leg side to it and smashes this over the fielder at mid off for four runs. Connor looks on song.

On a length, slanting down leg. Connor Esterhuizen gets inside the line and goes for a flick but misses. The ball clips Connor's pad, rolls past the leg stump and then trickles back to the keeper.

Hard length, wide of off, Connor Esterhuizen cuts this to the left of point for no run as this is fielded inside the circle.

Change in bowling. Here's Ben Sears replacing Zakary Foulkes.

On a length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen drives this in the gap and takes a single to end the over. 11 come off it.

Full and around off, Connor Esterhuizen drives this to covers for no run.

Good length, on off, nipping back in. Connor Esterhuizen misses the flick and the ball rams onto his front pad.

SIX! Pumped into the stands. Kyle Jamieson goes top-deck and bowls a short one to Connor. The batter was up for it as Connor plants his front foot towards the line of the ball and pulls this off his front foot up and over the fence at deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

FOUR! Connor gets one away as well. On a length, around middle and off, Connor Esterhuizen leans onto the pitch of the ball and flicks this over the mid-wicket fielder for four runs.

Short pitched, on off. Connor Esterhuizen blocks this off his back foot.

FOUR! A couple of boundaries in the second over, along with a couple of singles has got SA going in this contest. Full and around off, shaping away from the southpaw, Tony de Zorzi gets right behind the line of it and drives this past the diving fielder at mid off, to his left for four runs.

On a length, around off, shaping away from the batter. Tony de Zorzi pushes this to mid off.

FOUR​​​​​​! First boundary of the contest for Africa. Short pitched, around middle and off, Tony de Zorzi gets cramped a bit but a quick bit of footwork helps him pull this past the fielder at mid-wicket to his left for a boundary.

Hard length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen hops deep inside the crease and dabs this to the third man region for a single.

Well, this is a big inswinging delivery, starting around the fifth stump and ending on top of off. Connor Esterhuizen stays on his back foot and blocks this to covers.

First runs for SA as Tony de Zorzi punches a short one past the fielder at extra cover for a single. Tony is off the mark with this single as well.

How about that for an opening over? A wicket maiden to start with. Zakary Foulkes to operate from the opposite end.

A wicket maiden from Kyle Jamieson to get things underway in Wellington. Back of a length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen looks to block this off his back foot but the ball nips away from the batter and beats his outside edge.

Full and around middle and leg, Connor Esterhuizen flicks this grounded to the fielder at mid-wicket.

Good length, on top of off. Connor Esterhuizen gets right behind the line of it and keeps it out.

Hard length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen looks to defend this off his front foot but gets beaten.

An early wicket for the Kiwis. Another duck for Mulder and their opening partnership troubles continue. Connor Esterhuizen is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND​​​​! Back of a length, around off, with a hint of away shape and bounce. Wiaan Mulder doesn't move his feet much and pokes at it away from his body. Doesn't get beaten this time and manages an outside edge to the left of Tim Robinson at first slip for a regulation catch. Kyle Jamieson straight into the wickets and the Proteas are 0/1.

Kyle starts with one right in the channel and around off, Wiaan Mulder plays within the line and looks to block this but the ball holds its line and Mulder gets beaten on the outside.

We are all set to get underway in the capital city of New Zealand. A pleasant evening welcomes all the players. The two umpires have made their way out. James Neesham leads his men out as the Kiwis spread to take their respective fielding positions. Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi are the two openers for South Africa. And the giant figure of Kyle Jamieson is all in readiness to bowl the first over. Mulder to face wth a slip in place. Here we go!

Up next for a quick word - It is South Africa's George Linde. Linde says that it has been an interesting series with respect to the conditions. On the assistance for spinners, he admitts the side had not played spin particularly well but credited New Zealand for doing a good job, adding that he hoped things would go South Africa's way in the match. On what needs to improve, Linde says the key is not losing too many wickets in the powerplay, noting how difficult it is for batters to get going immediately after coming in. He admits to loving his batting more than his bowling, though he concedes that his batting hasn't gone entirely the way he had wanted. He hopes for a good outing this time around.

Who is up for a chat with Frankie Mackay? Nick Kelly, it is. Kelly says the pitch looks good to bat, but they have to adapt quickly. There is a bit of grass on it, but it looks like a 200-plus wicket. Reckons that the pre-conceived ideas are wrong sometimes, and therefore he doesn't look much at the wicket. On his plans today, Kelly says it's a shorter square here and feels the bowlers could go into the surface, there was a little bit of turn in the Women's game but he'll take the Proteas bowlers, however.

The captain of New Zealand - James Neesham says that leading the side is an obvious honour, though he adds it is something you reflect on later, probably after your career is done. He also says that he is happy to do whatever the team requires of him.

The captain of South Africa - Keshav Maharaj says they will look to bat first. He adds that the pitch looks good, they'll put runs on the board and try to bring their bowlers into play. Tells that the pitch looks lower and slower as they saw in the Women's game earlier on and hopes to implement the learnings from that game.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke (On T20I debut and in for Devon Conway), Dane Cleaver (WK) (In for Tom Latham), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham (C), Josh Clarkson (In for Mitchell Santner), Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes (In for Lockie Ferguson), Kyle Jamieson, and Ben Sears.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen (WK), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (C), Prenelan Subrayen (On T20I debut and in for Nqobani Mokoena), and Ottneil Baartman (In for Lutho Sipamla).

TOSS - The coin flip lands in favor of South Africa and they have opted to BAT first.

Chasing a historic milestone - History beckons for the Kiwis as the action moves from Auckland to Wellington, presenting New Zealand with a golden opportunity to shatter a long-standing statistical ceiling. Despite their prowess in the shortest format, the Kiwis have surprisingly never secured a bilateral T20I series victory against South Africa in a series consisting of two or more matches. Currently holding a 2-1 lead, the hosts stand on the horizon of a landmark achievement, knowing that a clinical performance here would not only break that historical drought but also solidify their dominance on home turf against a formidable Proteas outfit.

The Fight for survival - The narrative of momentum versus survival takes center stage as New Zealand navigates a sudden leadership shuffle following a thumb injury to Tom Latham, who was originally slated to captain the side once Santner departed. With James Neesham now thrust into the captaincy and Tom Blundell joining the ranks, the Kiwis must maintain their bowling rhythm despite losing their primary anchor. Conversely, South Africa finds themselves in a desperate fight for survival, needing their big hitters to rediscover their timing and their bowlers to exploit a vulnerable, reshuffled New Zealand top order. The Proteas will be leaning heavily on Connor Esterhuizen and the middle order to convert their potential into match-winning knocks, as they aim to silence the Wellington crowd and force a winner-takes-all series decider in the final game.

Testing the depth of the Kiwi pipeline - The tactical landscape for the hosts has been dramatically reshaped by the absence of several marquee stars, forcing a massive test of New Zealand’s domestic bench strength. With the departure of Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, and Lockie Ferguson, the squad has lost significant experience in leadership, top-order stability, and express pace. This vacuum has paved the way for fresh faces like Dane Cleaver and Jayden Lennox to step up, while the highly anticipated debut of Katene Clarke adds an element of the unknown to the lineup. The ability of these rising stars to handle the pressure of a potential series-clincher will be the primary storyline as the New Zealand experienced bunch makes way for the next generation.

A high-stakes showdown in Wellington - The cricketing world turns its gaze toward the iconic Sky Stadium in Wellington, where the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. As we arrive at this critical juncture of the five-match series with the Kiwis leading this 2-1, the narrative has shifted from a mere bilateral contest to a definitive tipping point that could reshape the rivalry between these two nations.

... MATCHDAY ...

A Kiwi surge - The 2026 T20I showdown between New Zealand and South Africa has reached a fever pitch as the circus rolls into the iconic Sky Stadium in Wellington. After a rocky start where the Proteas rattled the hosts in the opener, the Black Caps have clawed their way back with clinical, cold-blooded precision. Now leading the series 2-1, New Zealand stands on the precipice of a series victory on home soil. For South Africa, the stakes couldn't be higher, as it is a desperate scramble to keep their hopes of a grand finale in Christchurch alive. Defying the T20 blueprint - Contrary to the modern reputation of T20 cricket as a batter’s playground, this series has been a throwback to an era where the ball reigned supreme. We have witnessed uncharacteristically low scores across all venues, with both sides consistently struggling to cross the 150-mark. The pitches have offered a devilish cocktail of extra zip for the seamers and biting turn for the spinners, transforming every innings into a high-stakes tactical chess match rather than a boundary-hitting gala. With Wellington’s notorious heavy winds expected to howl through the stadium, the batters might be in for another afternoon of atmospheric turbulence. Seeking the killer blow - New Zealand looks like a side that has found its rhythm at the perfect moment, though they face a significant leadership transition. With Mitchell Santner stepping aside for the final two games, replaced by Katene Clarke, the captaincy armband passes to the veteran Tom Latham. The hosts will lean heavily on the experienced opening pair of Devon Conway and Latham himself to provide a steady platform, a necessity given how sluggish the Kiwi middle order has looked throughout the series. While the batting has been scratchy, the bowling remains elite. Lockie Ferguson's raw, intimidating pace was a key weapon in rattling the Proteas in the last couple of games, but he was only available for those two matches and will now spend time with his newborn. In his absence, it is an opportunity for the likes of Nathan Smith and Zakary Foulkes to showcase their skills in this format. South Africa’s search for a hero - For South Africa, this is quite literally a do-or-die situation. Their lineup, shorn of some of the legendary big names, is packed with domestic stars who have yet to translate their provincial form onto the international stage. The statistics tell a grim story as not a single South African batter has crossed the 50-run mark in this series, highlighting a struggle to adapt to the sticky Kiwi wickets. The management faces a major headache at the top of the order. Will they persist with the struggling Wiaan Mulder as an opener, or look for a spark elsewhere? If the young guns can’t weather the initial storm, even a heroic bowling unit led by the crafty Keshav Maharaj and the fiery Gerald Coetzee might not be enough to save them. Tactical tussles - The individual duels will likely dictate who boards the flight to Christchurch with a smile. All eyes will be on the Powerplay battle between Devon Conway and the South African pace battery. While Conway is a master at dismantling spin with his sweeps, he has looked vulnerable against the moving ball early on. On the flip side, the spotlight shines brightly on young Connor Esterhuizen, who has been a rare bright spot alongside George Linde and Dian Forrester. How they handle the express heat of the Kiwi pace attack will be the defining subplot on either end of the innings. If Connor can navigate the opening burst, South Africa might finally post the competitive total they’ve been searching for. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - NZ - WWLLW | SA - LLWLW. A Wellington storm brews - There is a unique electricity in the air whenever the Proteas and Kiwis meet with a trophy on the line. Will the New Zealand veteran core slam the door shut and claim the silverware with a game to spare, or can the South African underdogs find their inner fire and force a winner-takes-all decider? One thing is certain that in the windy corridors of Sky Stadium, every run will be worth its weight in gold.