END OF OVER:
20 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | NZ: 154/8 (34 runs required, RR: 7.70)

  • Kyle Jamieson4 (4b)
  • Zak Foulkes4 (2b)
  • Wiaan Mulder3-0-28-2
  • Gerald Coetzee4-0-21-2

10.50pm South Africa win their first away T20I series under Shukri Conrad. That is that. Many thanks for your company and comments. Do come back for the three-match ODI series between SA and the White Ferns. Until next time, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Chetan Kumar and Thilak Ram.

10.31pm Maharaj gets together with his team-mates and soaks in this series win. After Mulder and Baartman made early inroads, SA's three-pronged spin attack shut down NZ's chase of 188 in the middle overs. Subrayen showcased his sliders and Baartman his variations as SA kept the Black Caps to 154 for 8. The hosts will also be disappointed with their sloppy fielding. SA's win was set up by Esterhuizen's 33-ball 75. After making his maiden T20I fifty in the previous match, he produced another half-century here. It's been a debut series to remember for Esterhuizen. Will he win the Player-of-the-Series award? Do stick with us for the post-match presentation.

Connor Esterhuizen, Player of the Match and Player of the Series: I think the nice thing was I got to play with freedom and express myself. The one over cover [stands out for me]. In my mind, the openers assessed and said 160 would be competitive and me and Forrester thought 180 would be a good score and we ended up with 187. I think from the first match, was a bit of a graft and then you have to play some dots. Then was a bit more free-flowing and got into strong positions and that sets you in good stead. Absolutely [four-day cricket] helps playing T20 cricket. Means everything and pinch-me moment to play for your country. Special feeling and humbling. A lot of things stand out and I loved this series and I loved the country of NZ.

Jimmy Neesham, NZ captain: Tough start and fought back, but unfortunately a couple of sub-par performances at the end of the series. Long summer and look forward to time at home. Cricket is on all time of the year, and good opportunity here. We saw some experience gained and some good moments. I thought we batted and bowled okay, but fielding was below par. South Africa have a quality bowling attack and batters got a taste of what the next level is like.

Keshav Maharaj, SA captain: It's a wonderful opportunity for these youngsters to understand international cricket. We saw the hunger and desire and it shows the depth in our system. From 2-1 down, to see the youngsters come through for two good performances with the bat, we can be really happy. It was easy transition into international cricket [for some of them].

Sampath Bandarupalli, our stats guru: "Nine catches dropped in the New Zealand-South Africa game so far, the most for any men's T20I as per ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data logs since June 2018."


19.6
1
Mulder to Jamieson, 1 run, slower ball yorker outside off, Jamieson steers it to the sweeper and that's that. South Africa have come from 2-1 down to win the series 3-2
19.5
0
Mulder to Jamieson, no run, bouncer that climbs past Jamieson, which is a big deal considering how tall he is.
19.4
1lb
Mulder to Foulkes, 1 leg bye, full and into the pads, Foulkes isn't able to flick it away as he likes
19.3
1
Mulder to Jamieson, 1 run, slugs a shortish ball on middle and off to long-on

Sean: "If only this was the t20 semi-final"

19.2
2
Mulder to Jamieson, 2 runs, hoists a back of a length ball over the bowler's head
19.1
W
Mulder to Neesham, OUT, slips down leg as Neesham looks to flick it away. Initially called a wide but SA have reviewed for a caught behind. And they're vindicated! All very low key. Esterhuizen initially didn't even appeal before he saw the bowler going up and joined him. UltraEdge on the replay shows a spike as ball passes bat and that's the second man Mulder has trapped down leg tonight

JDS Neesham c †Esterhuizen b Mulder 24 (38m 24b 2x4 0x6) SR: 100

END OF OVER:
19 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | NZ: 149/7 (39 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.84, RRR: 39.00)

  • Zak Foulkes4 (1b)
  • James Neesham24 (23b)
  • Gerald Coetzee4-0-21-2
  • Ottneil Baartman4-0-33-2
18.6
4
Coetzee to Foulkes, FOUR, walks across and scoops a back of a length ball well wide of off stump over short fine
18.5
W
Coetzee to McConchie, OUT, taken at long-on. Straightforward catch for Mulder. Cross-seam ball on a length on and around middle stump. McConchie goes big but not big enough.

CE McConchie c Mulder b Coetzee 1 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

18.4
1
Coetzee to Neesham, 1 run, full toss but it's coming at enough pace, 144.5kph, that it hits the bat more than bat hits the ball as Neesham looks to clear mid-off. He can't. It goes one-bounce to the fielder

Frase: "This may be Neesham's last hurrah in a career that has held promises and expectations, but never really achieved great heights."

18.3
1
Coetzee to McConchie, 1 run, pulls the slower short ball down to long leg
18.2
W
Coetzee to Clarkson, OUT, leading edge and taken at cover. Wide yorker from Coetzee at 145 kph. Clarkson is so deep in his crease. He's also moving across his stumps to find runs on the leg side, but the cross-seam ball takes the wrong part of the bat and goes straight up. Good reward for Coetzee.

JA Clarkson c de Zorzi b Coetzee 13 (13m 10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 130

18.1
2
Coetzee to Clarkson, 2 runs, takes pace off and goes into the pitch, Clarkson coming down the track has to slow down his swing and as well as he does, he's still only able to get two on the pull shot to deep midwicket

New Zealand need 47 off 12 balls and Coetzee looks in no mood to let them have those runs

END OF OVER:
18 | 14 Runs | NZ: 141/5 (47 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.83, RRR: 23.50)

  • Josh Clarkson11 (8b)
  • James Neesham23 (22b)
  • Ottneil Baartman4-0-33-2
  • Gerald Coetzee3-0-13-0
17.6
1
Baartman to Clarkson, 1 run, belts the overptiched ball outside off to long-on
17.5
1lb
Baartman to Neesham, 1 leg bye, slower ball ends up a full toss on the hips, Neesham isn't able to adjust to the lack of pace enough to take advantage of a boundary ball. Has to settle for a leg bye
17.5
1w
Baartman to Neesham, 1 wide, yorker slides a touch too far down leg
17.4
4
Baartman to Neesham, FOUR, slower ball with room to free the arms and Neesham is able to slap it down to the long-off boundary

Jackie : "This is the issue I have with T20. Games are often decided too early which makes it dull. One dayers and tests are a much better skills showcase. I'm off to bed."

17.3
2
Baartman to Neesham, 2 runs, makes room on the leg side and cuts a shortish ball outside off to the sweeper
17.2
1
Baartman to Clarkson, 1 run, follows up with the perfect yorker, potentially what he was trying to do last ball as well and just missed. Here, he nails his length and his line too, because it is right on the base of middle and off. Clarkson jams an open face down on it and finds short third
17.1
4
Baartman to Clarkson, FOUR, clears his front leg and smears the pitched up ball just outside off down to the long-on boundary. In the slot, room to work with, not great

END OF OVER:
17 | 2 Runs | NZ: 127/5 (61 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.47, RRR: 20.33)

  • James Neesham17 (19b)
  • Josh Clarkson5 (5b)
  • Gerald Coetzee3-0-13-0
  • Ottneil Baartman3-0-20-2
16.6
0
Coetzee to Neesham, no run, all pace this time, back of a length and going across the left-hander, Neesham slogs and connects only with thin air. Fantastic over.
16.5
0
Coetzee to Neesham, no run, change of pace now and Neesham is completely deceived. There's an audible "ohhh" from the stump mic as Neesham goes for the pull shot seeing the short ball but by the time it comes through, he needs to slow down his bat swing and he doesn't do it well enough. Ball just pops tamely into the covers
16.4
1
Coetzee to Clarkson, 1 run, steps out making room this time and slaps the short ball outside off to the sweeper. Lots of attempts being made. But the big hits are only going for singles. Top stuff from South Africa's bowlers
16.3
0
Coetzee to Clarkson, no run, seeing as walking across didn't work, Clarkson comes down the track this time but Coetzee's pace and bounce is once again too much. Swing and miss
16.2
0
Coetzee to Clarkson, no run, lovely stuff again. Coetzee spots Clarkson walking across his stumps into the off side, so he digs it into the pitch and drags his line wider, making it harder for the batter to drag the ball into the leg side. Clarkson doesn't make contact. 145 kph too

Required rate up at 16...

16.1
1
Coetzee to Neesham, 1 run, swings for the fences on the leg side but mis-hits the back of a length ball just outside off stump backward of point

Here's Coetzee

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st11KD ClarkeTB Robinson
2nd35D CleaverTB Robinson
3rd16NF KellyTB Robinson
4th7NF KellyBJ Jacobs
5th52JDS NeeshamBJ Jacobs
6th22JDS NeeshamJA Clarkson
7th2JDS NeeshamCE McConchie
8th4JDS NeeshamZG Foulkes
9th5KA JamiesonZG Foulkes