- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR3.4 sharp inswinger from Foulkes after testing de Zorzi with some outswingers. Nice and full, veers in to thump the front pad in line with middle. De Zorzi does not meet with his leg-side flick - nobody at square leg - and the finger goes up. Looked pretty adjacent 21/110.1 Clarkson strikes with his first ball! Back of a length on off, some extra bounce for Clarkson, which messes with Mulder's pull. He ends up sending a top-edge to Neesham at extra-cover. Clarkson is chuffed to bits 76/215.1 Kelly pulls off a one-handed screamer! Wouldja believe it? Kelly tears across to his left from mid-on, stretches his left hand out, and has the ball sticking in his left hand, inches from the ground. Hard-length delivery from Sears, gets big on Hermann and messes with his pull. He ends up flapping in the air and then Kelly completes a stunning catch. A genuine contender for the catch of the NZ summer 125/319.4 No error this time. Captain Neesham holds onto the catch. Sears darts a full-toss outside off, but it's still a hard-to-hit full-toss, which is sliced to long-off. They check for a possible beamer, but it's clearly below the waistline. Gone for 75 off 33 - a potentially series-winning effort from Esterhuizen 186/4Extras8 (lb 2, nb 2, w 4)TOTAL187/4 (20 Overs, RR: 9.35)Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Tony de Zorzi, 3.4 ov), 2-76 (Wiaan Mulder, 10.1 ov), 3-125 (Rubin Hermann, 15.1 ov), 4-186 (Connor Esterhuizen, 19.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB KA Jamieson 4 0 43 0 10.75 11 5 2 2 0 ZG Foulkes 4 0 22 1 5.5 14 3 0 1 1 BV Sears 4 0 37 2 9.25 10 3 2 0 0 CE McConchie 4 0 48 0 12 5 1 5 0 0 JDS Neesham 2 0 21 0 10.5 4 2 1 1 0 JA Clarkson 2 0 14 1 7 4 1 0 0 1
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR1.3 Oops, Clarke has been strangled down the leg side. Soft dismissal. On a length and veering down the leg side, Clarke does not get enough bat on ball. Glanced behind to the keeper. Unlucky dismissal for the NZ rookie, but Mulder won't mind this 11/18.5 slower through the air, drifts in and turns away outside off. Robinson aims to hit down the ground or over the leg side, ends up slicing the ball over cover. Robinson then chances a double and is caught well short, despite a full-length dive. Smith gathers the ball and fires an accurate throw to the keeper who does the rest. NZ sinking in this chase at Hagley 62/35.4 Baartman draws a leading edge to point. Back of a length and on off, kicks up at Cleaver, who aims leg side, but closes his bat-face a bit too early and sends the ball to Smith at point. Smith redeems himself after dropping one earlier in the evening 46/210.2 Kelly shapes to thwack another one down the leg side. He tries to over-hit this ball, which is fuller than the previous one, and ends up dragging this back onto his own stumps. The pressure gets to Kelly. Gone for 14 off 18 balls 69/415.4 Baartman takes out Jacobs. Holes out to wide long-on. Another hard-length delivery outside off, Jacobs pumps it in the air but does not generate enough power or elevation to clear Forrester at long-on. Game over for NZ? 121/519.1 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 149/818.2 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. 143/618.5 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. 145/7Extras9 (b 1, lb 3, w 5)TOTAL154/8 (20 Overs, RR: 7.7)Did not bat: BV SearsFall of wickets: 1-11 (Katene Clarke, 1.3 ov), 2-46 (Dane Cleaver, 5.4 ov), 3-62 (Tim Robinson, 8.5 ov), 4-69 (Nick Kelly, 10.2 ov), 5-121 (Bevon Jacobs, 15.4 ov), 6-143 (Josh Clarkson, 18.2 ov), 7-145 (Cole McConchie, 18.5 ov), 8-149 (James Neesham, 19.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB G Coetzee 4 0 21 2 5.25 11 1 0 0 0 PWA Mulder 3 0 28 2 9.33 6 4 0 0 0 GF Linde 2 0 11 0 5.5 5 0 0 4 0 OEG Baartman 4 0 33 2 8.25 11 5 0 1 0 P Subrayen 4 0 22 0 5.5 7 0 0 0 0 KA Maharaj 3 0 35 1 11.66 5 2 3 0 0
Match Details
Toss
New Zealand , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Player Of The Series
Series result
South Africa won the 5-match series 3-2
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
25 March 2026 - night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Match Notes
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 43 runs, 1 wicket)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 7.2 overs (45 balls), Extras 2
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 32 balls (PWA Mulder 22, RA Hermann 29, Ex 1)
- Drinks: South Africa - 76/1 in 10.0 overs (PWA Mulder 31, RA Hermann 30)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 12.6 overs (80 balls), Extras 4
- South Africa: 150 runs in 17.1 overs (105 balls), Extras 7
- C Esterhuizen: 50 off 25 balls (3 x 4, 4 x 6)
- 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 24 balls (C Esterhuizen 28, D Forrester 21, Ex 2)
- Innings Break: South Africa - 187/4 in 20.0 overs (D Forrester 21, JF Smith 1)
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 46 runs, 2 wickets)
- New Zealand: 50 runs in 6.4 overs (40 balls), Extras 5
- Drinks: New Zealand - 65/3 in 10.0 overs (NF Kelly 10, BJ Jacobs 1)
- New Zealand: 100 runs in 14.1 overs (85 balls), Extras 6
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 30 balls (BJ Jacobs 35, JDS Neesham 16, Ex 1)
- Over 19.1: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - WR Knights, Batter - JDS Neesham (Upheld)
- New Zealand: 150 runs in 19.2 overs (116 balls), Extras 8
Match Coverage
All Match NewsWalter: Having Ben Sears fit to play an entire series is a win
NZ's head coach Rob Walter reflects on the takeaways from the five-match T20I series against SA
A bet, a bat, and a breakout: The making of Esterhuizen's dream debut series
Backed by his captain Maharaj, the 24-year old anchored SA's turnaround and emerged as the defining batter of the series
Esterhuizen, bowlers lead South Africa to 3-2 series win
Esterhuizen hit his second consecutive fifty before South Africa's bowlers ensured New Zealand never threatened in the chase
New Zealand bowl, both teams unchanged for decider
The series is locked in at 2-2 after South Africa won games one and four, and New Zealand won games two and three
Conrad: Whether it is fully-fledged international cricket, I think the jury is out
South Africa coach admits a series with understrength teams isn't ideal but highlighted the opportunities it has given fringe players


