NZ vs SA, 5th T20I highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2

Adios! Keshav Maharaj has been handed over the trohy. He walks away towards his fellow teammates to pose for the cameras. While the New Zealand women’s team celebrated a dominant 4-1 series victory behind a masterclass from captain Amelia Kerr, the men’s side was unable to replicate that success in their own series decider, as both nations utilised the opportunity to test their bench strength only for the clinical visitors to walk away with the silverware. That is all from this series. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Cheers for now.

A special comeback! Keshav Maharaj, the skipper of South Africa, says it is a wonderful opportunity for these youngsters to understand what international cricket is about. Shares that a lot of them underestimated their side with so many young players, but to see the hunger, desire and passion and to come back from 2-1 is super special. Mentions this series shows the depth in the system. They lacked experience, but to see the guys play today, it felt like an easy transition into international cricket despite some pressure behind them.

Opportunity for the youngsters! James Neesham, the New Zealand captain, acknowledges that the series has had its ups and downs, with the team fighting back in games two and three to take a 2-1 lead, but ultimately falling short due to subpar performances at the end of the series, which is disappointing given the long summer they've had since October. He notes that the scheduling is challenging, with cricket on at all times of the year, but believes that the opportunity for young players to gain experience is valuable, and that the team has seen some good moments and tough options, with the young players likely to take away valuable experience to improve themselves. He feels that the team has batted and bowled okay, but the fielding has been below par, and that South Africa's quality bowling attack has given their batters a taste of the next level.

Backing his instincts! For his career-best score today and a total of 200 runs across the five matches, Connor Esterhuizen wins the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series! Connor expressed his gratitude and credited his team's top-order batters for setting a solid platform, allowing him to play freely. He recalls ball striking to natural instincts and was pleased once they got past the score of 160-170, feeling confident that crossing it would make it challenging for the opposing team. Adds that the ball travelled nicely and the outfield was really quick. If red-ball cricket helped him in this format, Connor says it is a great back-to-basics format that helps you in T20 cricket. On playing for the country, Connor says they dream of playing for South Africa and adds that it is a special and humbling feeling. 

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New Zealand failed to show up - The Black Caps’ struggle in the field set the stage for a difficult chase, having conceded a few too many runs in the first innings, and their response with the bat saw them falter completely. Already hampered by an inexperienced batting lineup, New Zealand desperately needed a solid platform, but instead found themselves reeling at 69/4 after a disastrous start. While Bevon Jacobs injected some much-needed impetus with a brisk 36 off 19 balls, his efforts weren't enough to repair the damage. The final blow to the Kiwis' hopes came with the dismissal of their skipper, James Neesham, which effectively ended the resistance. South Africa’s bowling unit was clinical in defense, while Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, and Ottniel Baartman all finished with two wickets apiece. It was the overall discipline and collective execution from the visitors that smothered the chase and secured the series.

Proteas' charge with the bat! Despite the ball moving significantly early on, the Proteas showed immense composure to navigate the powerplay, losing just a single wicket. While the 55-run stand between Wiaan Mulder and Rubin Hermann provided the necessary stability, it was the explosive partnership between Dian Forrester and Connor Esterhuizen that ultimately took the game away from the Black Caps.  Their aggressive middle-order charge effectively killed the contest as South Africa ended with plenty on board despite the conditions helping the bowlers.

South Africa completes a comeback - Rising from a 2-1 deficit to clinch the series 3-2, South Africa completed a brilliant turnaround with a clinical performance against New Zealand under challenging conditions. This 3-2 comeback isn't just a series win, it’s a historic breakthrough for the Proteas. This marks South Africa’s first away bilateral series victory since August 2022, ending a long drought on foreign soil.

Wiaan Mulder to Kyle Jamieson, Very full and outside off. Kyle Jamieson guides it to deep point for a single. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 33 RUNS AND TAKE THE SERIES.

Wiaan Mulder to Kyle Jamieson, Bowls a bouncer, on middle and leg. Kyle Jamieson looks to pull but misses.

Wiaan Mulder to Zakary Foulkes, Leg bye! Serves a pace off delivery, full and on leg. Zakary Foulkes looks to flick but misses and it rolls off the pads to point for a leg bye.

Wiaan Mulder to Kyle Jamieson, Short of a length, around off. Kyle Jamieson pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wiaan Mulder to Kyle Jamieson, Back of a length on middle. Kyle Jamieson punches on the up to mid off for a couple of runs.

Wiaan Mulder to James Neesham, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Very full, down leg. James Neesham looks to flick it away but misses. It is given as a wide but South Africa have reviewed it. They feel there is some part of the blade. Okay, James Neesham is already walking away and crosses the ropes as UltraEdge confirms a spike. A nothing delivery from Wiaan Mulder but somehow finds a wicket. 

Just six legal deliveries are required now by South Africa to wrap the series. Wiaan Mulder to bowl the final over.

Gerald Coetzee to Zakary Foulkes, FOUR! Good shot! On a good length, around off. Zakary Foulkes gets inside the line and paddles it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes replaces Cole McConchie.

Gerald Coetzee to Cole McConchie, OUT! TAKEN! Second wicket for Gerald Coetzee. Back of a length delivery, around off. Cole McConchie tries to muscle it away but ends up finding Wiaan Mulder at long on. A simple catch in the deep. 

Gerald Coetzee to James Neesham, Oh, it was there to be hit. A full toss, around off. James Neesham chips it to mid off where Keshav Maharaj picks up on a bounce. Just a single.

Gerald Coetzee to Cole McConchie, Short of a length, around off. Cole McConchie pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Cole McConchie walks to the middle. For South Africa, they have kept James Neesham away from the strike.

Gerald Coetzee to Josh Clarkson, OUT! TAKEN! A scrambled seam delivery, very full and outside off. Clarkson tries to take on the vacant square leg region by moving across but ends up miscuing it to cover. Tony de Zorzi takes a simple catch. 

Gerald Coetzee to Josh Clarkson, Short of a length, around off. Clarkson stands tall and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple. 

47 needed in 2 overs. Gerald Coetzee to bowl the penultimate over. South Africa are the favourites for now, but New Zealand have their skipper out there.

Ottneil Baartman to Josh Clarkson, Pushes it full and angling around off. Clarkson bends low and hits it down to long on for a single. 

Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Leg bye! A full toss, onto the hip pads. James Neesham fails to hit it away. It rolls off the pads to square leg for a leg bye. 

Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Wide! Too short, down leg. James Neesham lets it be.

Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, FOUR! The skipper is keeping the hopes alive. Length delivery, outside off. James Neesham frees his arms and hammers it down to long off for a boundary.

Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Ottneil Baartman pitches it up, close to the off pole. James Neesham squeezes it out through covers for a brace.

Ottneil Baartman to Josh Clarkson, A yorker, just outside off. Clarkson opens the bat face and guides it to short third man for a run.

Ottneil Baartman to Josh Clarkson, FOUR! Picked it up well. Pace off, fuller delivery, around off. Clarkson waits and hammers it down to long on and it races to the fence.

Gerald Coetzee to James Neesham, Superb over under pressure by Gerald Coetzee. Shorter delivery on middle. James Neesham looks to pull but misses.

Gerald Coetzee to James Neesham, Well bowled! A bumper, across the batter, sticking into the surface. James Neesham tries to whack it away but ends up placing it to cover.

Gerald Coetzee to Josh Clarkson, Short in length, outside off. Clarkson again charges down and ramps it to deep point for a run.

Gerald Coetzee to Josh Clarkson, Another dot! A skiddy length delivery on middle. Clarkson steps down and swings hard but misses. The ball bounces just over the stumps.

Gerald Coetzee to Josh Clarkson, Bangs it short and outside off, it shoots off the deck. Clarkson looks to pull but misses.

Gerald Coetzee is back on. 11 runs off his two overs so far.

Gerald Coetzee to James Neesham, A slower length delivery, outside off. James Neesham clears his front leg and miscues his cut shot on the off side for a single.

Ottneil Baartman to Josh Clarkson, FOUR! Nicely played! Shorter delivery, width on offer outside off. Josh Clarkson opens the bat face and steers it through backward point for a boundary.

Ottneil Baartman to Josh Clarkson, Hard length delivery on middle. Josh Clarkson tries to fend it away but misses and it lobs off the pads to point.

Josh Clarkson is the next batter in.

Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, OUT! TAKEN! The 50-run stand is broken! Jacobs had no option but to go after everything. Back of a length, around off. Jacobs tries to force his shot with the angle over long on but fails to hit it cleanly. Dian Forrester at long on takes a simple catch. South Africa needed this wicket badly.

Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, A yorker delivery, angling on leg. Jacobs fails to get down quickly and gets hit on the boots. A muted appeal for LBW, clearly going down.

Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, FOUR! Beats the fielder! Tad fuller, around off. Jacobs stands tall and powers it over cover. The long off fielder runs across but in vain. These two have added 52 runs in 30 balls.

20 runs off the last over. South Africa are allowing New Zealand to get into the game. Ottneil Baartman replaces Prenelan Subrayen.

Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Short of a length, around off. James Neesham pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, James Neesham keeps the strike as he plays this fuller delivery through covers for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, FOUR! Well played! Looped up, fuller and around off. James Neesham launches it down the ground to long off for a boundary.

Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, CHANCE! Gerald Coetzee makes a mess of it! Tossed up, fuller and on middle. James Neesham slogs with the turn but top edges it to square leg. George Linde did not look comfortable as he gets underneath and fails to even grasp the ball. 

Keshav Maharaj to Bevon Jacobs, Slows up the pace, bowls it flat and outside off. Jacobs flat-bats it to long off for a single.