- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR0.2 Jamieson strikes second ball! Picks out that outside edge this time, and Tim Robinson dives to his left to take a good catch at slip. This is pitching on a fifth/sixth stump line again, and because of Jamieson's height he gets some bounce as well as movement off the deck. Mulder prods at it again, and the thick edge flies low to Robinson. 0/110.2 de Zorzie goes now. McConchie hangs this one up outside off, and pitches full. De Zorzi's eyes light up and he gets low and tries to get under it, aiming a shot over the covers. But he doesn't get the elevation, and ends up giving a sharp catch to the cover fielder. 83/39.4 Katene Clarke may have pulled off an all-time outfield catch. It's his first ever at international level, and they will check that on the replays as he caught it VERY close to the ground, running in from deep square leg. Esterhuizen had got into another solid pull, making an excellent connection, but he hadn't placed it this time. The ball was whizzing through the air, but Clarke went whizzing towards it himself, and just as it started to die on him, he threw himself full length forward and somehow got fingers underneath it. Replays confirm that it was clean. What a spectacular catch to open your account with. 81/214.6 full, hits the boot, and it's given out lbw! This was an on-pace yorker attampt that hits Forrester's front shoe as he tries to whip to leg. It's defnitely hitting the stumps, but did it hit the batter outside leg? Forrester reviews. But he will have to go regardless. That's hit him flush in front of leg stump and would have gone on the take out the base of the middle peg 121/417.6 gets his man this time! This is fuller and straighter, and on-pace. Smith tries to launch it down the ground, but can't clear Robinson at long off, who teeters on the edge of the playing field, but stays inside as he calmly completes the catch. 146/5Extras4 (lb 3, w 1)TOTAL164/5 (20 Overs, RR: 8.2)Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Wiaan Mulder, 0.2 ov), 2-81 (Connor Esterhuizen, 9.4 ov), 3-83 (Tony de Zorzi, 10.2 ov), 4-121 (Dian Forrester, 14.6 ov), 5-146 (Jason Smith, 17.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB KA Jamieson 4 1 29 2 7.25 12 2 2 0 0 ZG Foulkes 4 0 35 1 8.75 10 4 1 1 0 BV Sears 4 0 22 1 5.5 16 3 1 0 0 JDS Neesham 4 0 49 0 12.25 7 4 4 0 0 CE McConchie 4 0 26 1 6.5 8 3 0 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR5.2 biiig top edge, to a 146kph scrambled-seam delivery from Coetzee, and Hermann gets under it at backward point. That's the benefit of pace for Coetzee, who has been causing trouble so far. Robinson had tried to bash that over mid on. Coetzee is amped for his second wicket. 52/22.3 straight to deep square leg. Katene Clarke's first innings is eventful but brief. This was there to be hit, to be fair. A short one into the body. But Clarke can't get the elevation he wants, and the fielder only has to move a couple of metres to his right to pouch that easily. 28/18.2 full, straight, and sends a 105kph arm ball clattering into the stumps. Comes from wide of the crease and Cleaver tries to mow it to leg. Misjudges the speed though, and Subrayen has his first ever T20I wicket. The spinners have put the brakes on NZ, and now have a breakthrough as well. 76/313.2 flatter, fast, still fullish, and Kelly tries to slog sweep but cannot get much power into that. It ends up in the hands of Hermann at deep midwicket, and you suspect that is exactly what Maharaj was hoping for with that ball. Kelly needed a boundary but Maharaj didn't let him get under it. SA keep striking. 111/610.1 another fast ball, another set of stumps rattled. That's 104kph and this arm ball is causing real havoc. This is full and straight again, and it's Jacobs who is late on the shot this time. Has the base of middle and off shaken up. South Africa's spinners are turning this game at the moment. 88/411.5 another top edge and he's gone this time. Coetzee holds on at deep third. This is a replay of the first two - a fullish ball outside off, Neesh tries to smear it to leg (slightly flat batted this time), and it goes off the top edge once more. The difference this time is that it hugn in the air long enough for Coetzee to get comfortably under it. And he was running forward so it was relatively straightforward. Baarrman finally gets a wicket he deserved. 95/513.5 wangles one through him. Slows this one down a bit and SA's captain is really imposing himself on this game. That's a lovely, slower, straighter one in what has been an outstanding over. McConchie only tried to push at it but didn't have anything behind the line of the stumps. Goes between bat and pad and tickles leg stump 112/716.3 another top edge and is that the game? The short ones have worked for SA tonight, and this is no different. Coetzee digs it in well outside off, gets Clarkson to play a pull, and the extra bounce does him in. A simple catch to keeper Esterhuizen who jogs forward to get under it. 134/914.4 top edge, and Esterhuizen swallows it with the gloves. SA are looking to lock this match down now, and Baarman has another well-deserved wicket. This was short again, about chest high this time. Foulkes tried to crash it over leg but another one goes off the edge, and although Esterhuizen didn't judge this swirling ball perfectly, got himself in a position to throw out the hands and grab it last moment 120/818.5 a diving Baartman gets under yet another top-edged shot from NZ, and South Africa level the series 2-2. This has been an excellent bowling effort defending what was a below-par score on a flat cake tin track. Coetzee digs this one in and Sears tries to bash it to leg. It lobs up towards short fine where Baartman has to make some ground running to his left along the edge of the circle, but he manages in the end. 145/10Extras8 (lb 4, w 4)TOTAL145 all out (18.5 Overs, RR: 7.69)Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Katene Clarke, 2.3 ov), 2-52 (Tim Robinson, 5.2 ov), 3-76 (Dane Cleaver, 8.2 ov), 4-88 (Bevon Jacobs, 10.1 ov), 5-95 (James Neesham, 11.5 ov), 6-111 (Nick Kelly, 13.2 ov), 7-112 (Cole McConchie, 13.5 ov), 8-120 (Zak Foulkes, 14.4 ov), 9-134 (Josh Clarkson, 16.3 ov), 10-145 (Kyle Jamieson, 18.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB GF Linde 1 0 15 0 15 1 3 0 0 0 G Coetzee 3.5 0 31 3 8.08 13 2 2 0 0 PWA Mulder 3 0 30 1 10 5 3 1 2 0 OEG Baartman 4 0 30 2 7.5 9 2 1 1 0 P Subrayen 3 0 13 2 4.33 8 1 0 0 0 KA Maharaj 4 0 22 2 5.5 11 1 0 1 0
Match Details
Toss
South Africa , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Series result
5-match series level 2-2
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
19.15 start, First Session 19.15-20.45, Interval 20.45-21.05, Second Session 21.05-21.35
Match days
22 March 2026 - night match (20-over match)
T20I debut
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Match Notes
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 50 runs, 1 wicket)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 5.1 overs (31 balls), Extras 1
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 29 balls (T de Zorzi 9, C Esterhuizen 40, Ex 1)
- C Esterhuizen: 50 off 33 balls (6 x 4, 3 x 6)
- Drinks: South Africa - 81/2 in 9.4 overs (T de Zorzi 23)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 12.3 overs (75 balls), Extras 1
- Over 14.6: Review by South Africa (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - CA Black, Batter - D Forrester (Struck down)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 18.2 overs (110 balls), Extras 3
- Innings Break: South Africa - 164/5 in 20.0 overs (RA Hermann 28, GF Linde 14)
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 63 runs, 2 wickets)
- New Zealand: 50 runs in 4.4 overs (28 balls), Extras 2
- Drinks: New Zealand - 88/3 in 10.0 overs (NF Kelly 13, BJ Jacobs 3)
- New Zealand: 100 runs in 12.1 overs (73 balls), Extras 5
- Over 17.2: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - WR Knights, Batter - BV Sears (Struck down - Umpires Call)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsCovid 'sort of a saving grace in cricketing terms' for Esterhuizen
Esterhuizen, who is on his maiden tour for South Africa, reflects on how he had doubts about a career in professional cricket a few years ago
Esterhuizen's 57 and all-star bowling show take South Africa to series-levelling win
South Africa appeared to have stopped below par when they put up 164, but their bowlers put on an inspired show against an under-strength New Zealand
South Africa ask New Zealand to field as both sides ring in the changes
Katene Clarke is on his international debut with many seniors rested for New Zealand; Prenelan Subrayen comes in to join Keshav Maharaj and George Linde in the spin attack for South Africa
Meet Katene Clarke, New Zealand's latest big-hitting batter
Across the past two Super Smash seasons, Clarke has rattled up 616 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of nearly 150
Latham injured as New Zealand seek rare bilateral series win over South Africa
New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a bilateral series of two or more T20Is



