NZ vs SA, 5th T20I highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 25, 2026, 15:31:58 IST
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NZ vs SA, 5th T20I highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2

NZ vs SA, 5th T20I Live Score: New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to field.

The five-match T20 series between New Zealand and South Africa is tied at 2-2. Both teams have won two games each, making today’s final match the decider.

James Neesham: We will bowl first. Not too concerned. It looks like a pretty even contest. There’s a bit of grass on the pitch, which should help the ball move around early, so that’s a positive. It’s always great to be back at Hagley Oval. There’s definitely more experience in the group playing here now. We’ve spent a fair bit of time at this venue, and it’s always a fantastic place for cricket. The crowd turns up in numbers and creates a brilliant atmosphere. With the series on the line tonight, it’s an important game, and hopefully we can put on a good show for them.


Keshav Maharaj: We were actually looking to bat first, taking a bit of a cue from the women’s game played earlier. It looked like the better option, especially if the pitch holds up the way it did, so yeah, batting first was probably the plan. Yeah, it’s definitely useful. You do have to factor in a bit of weather overnight, but generally the conditions don’t change too much. It gives you a good reference point, especially from a bowling perspective around the right lines and lengths to hit. And from a batting point of view, it helps you identify scoring areas, whether that’s square of the wicket, through the off-side or straight down the ground.


New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver(w), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham(c), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears

South Africa (Playing XI): Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman
14:03 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs6.3
Score49 - 2

George Linde to Nick Kelly, Slightly short and around off, turning in. Nick Kelly cuts it to deep point for a single.

14:03 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs6.2
Score48 - 2

George Linde to Nick Kelly, Pushes it full and in line of the stumps. Nick Kelly watchfully blocks it out.

14:02 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs6.1
Score48 - 2

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Fuller delivery, around off. Robinson leans and drives it to long off for a single.

14:01 (IST) Mar 25
1wd
Overs6.1
Score47 - 2

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Wide! Linde slides it very full and down leg. Robinson looks to sweep but misses.

14:00 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 6 overs 46 - 2
Runs Scored: 0
0130(W)00
  • Nick Kelly 0 (2)
  • Tim Robinson 18 (13)
Ottneil Baartman1-0-4-1
0
Overs5.6
Score46 - 2

Ottneil Baartman to Nick Kelly, A play and a miss! Going across off, on a length, Kelly stays on the back foot but exposes all three stumps to get it through the off side. The ball leaves him with the angle to beat him on the outside edge. At the end of Powerplay, New Zealand are 46/2, needing 142 runs in 84 balls.

14:00 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs5.5
Score46 - 2

Ottneil Baartman to Nick Kelly, On a hard length, over middle. Kelly rides the bounce and stabs it down on the off side.

13:59 (IST) Mar 25

Out goes Dane Cleaver, in comes Nick Kelly.

13:58 (IST) Mar 25
W
Overs5.4
Score46 - 2

Ottneil Baartman to Dane Cleaver, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Ottneil Baartman strikes in his first over. He keeps it full, around off. Dane Cleaver walks across the stumps and takes the risk of going across the line. The ball straightens a touch after landing to take the leading edge. It is skied towards point, where Jason Smith makes no mistake this time. He settles under it and takes the catch close to his chest.

13:57 (IST) Mar 25
3
Overs5.3
Score46 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Tim Robinson, Full and around the off stump. Robinson shimmies across the sticks and brings his bottom hand into play. The bat turns in his hand but he manages to get it away to the right of mid-wicket. The deep fine leg fielder sprints to his left and prevents the boundary. Three runs taken.

13:57 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs5.2
Score43 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Dane Cleaver, At the sticks, on the fuller side. Cleaver gives the bowler the charge and goes hard at it. Miscues it off an inside edge to deep mid-wicket for one.

13:56 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs5.1
Score42 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Dane Cleaver, Shaping back into the right-hander, on a good length, on middle and leg. Dane Cleaver shuffles across to the off side for the scoop but misses. The ball bounces over the stumps.

13:55 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 5 overs 42 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
01(1WD)1(1WD)1011(1WD)01
  • Dane Cleaver 21 (14)
  • Tim Robinson 15 (12)
George Linde1-0-6-0
1
Overs4.6
Score42 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Rapped on the pads! Full and attacking the front pad. Dane takes a step across the stumps to flick it away. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and picks up a single as the ball goes away on the leg side.

13:55 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs4.5
Score41 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, This spins away, on a good length, on off. Dane rocks back to punch it away but mistimes it to cover.

13:54 (IST) Mar 25
1wd
Overs4.5
Score41 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Wide! Slows it down, full and down leg. Dane gets down on a knee for the sweep but does not connect. Third wide of the over.

13:54 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs4.4
Score40 - 1

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Low full toss, on middle. Robinson knocks it to long off and gets to the other end.

13:53 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs4.3
Score39 - 1

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Nearly sneaked through! This keeps sliding on with the arm, at the sticks. Tim goes back to a full ball but manages to keep it out.

13:52 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs4.2
Score39 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Good stop! Shorter and on off, a bit of extra bounce. Dane hops back to punch it away. Jason Smith slides to his left at extra cover and cuts it off. Just a single.

13:52 (IST) Mar 25
1wd
Overs4.2
Score38 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Wide! Fired down leg again, Cleaver fails to get the sweep away. Wide given.

13:52 (IST) Mar 25
1wd
Overs4.2
Score37 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Wide! Sprayed down leg, full in length. Dane Cleaver sweeps but misses.

13:51 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs4.1
Score36 - 1

George Linde to Dane Cleaver, Floated up, around off. Dane brings out the reverse but fails to connect. He gets rapped on the pads but well outside the line of the off stump.

13:51 (IST) Mar 25

George Linde is brought into the attack.

13:50 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 4 overs 36 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
224441
  • Dane Cleaver 19 (10)
  • Tim Robinson 14 (10)
Wiaan Mulder2-0-24-1
1
Overs3.6
Score36 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, A single to end an eventful over. Full and on middle. Dane Cleaver squeezes out an inside edge to mid on and takes a single to keep the strike. 17 runs off the over.

13:49 (IST) Mar 25
4
Overs3.5
Score35 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! Nicely done! Mulder goes back to bowling it short, on off. Dane Cleaver backs away and waits for the ball to arrive. He gets under it and plays the upper cut over the keeper for a boundary.

13:48 (IST) Mar 25
4
Overs3.4
Score31 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! Easy pickings! Too straight, full and sliding onto the pads. Dane Cleaver does not miss out on putting it away. Smears it to the right of the man at short fine leg for a four.

13:48 (IST) Mar 25
4
Overs3.3
Score27 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! ANOTHER CHANCE! Mulder stays short, on off. Dane makes room and throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball flies off a thickish outside edge to short third, where Gerald Coetzee leaps and sticks out his right hand over his head. He can only get fingertips to it before the ball races away.

13:47 (IST) Mar 25
2
Overs3.2
Score23 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, DROPPED AGAIN! Mulder bends his back and goes short, on off, Dane flays at it. Dian Forrester runs across to his left at deep backward point and extends his hands out in front but the ball drops on him. The ball clips his fingertips and goes down.

13:46 (IST) Mar 25
2
Overs3.1
Score21 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, On a length, on off, Dane Cleaver walks across the stumps and plays the scoop. He gets enough bat on it to clear the backtracking Ottneil Baartman at short fine leg. Dane collects a couple of runs.

13:45 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 3 overs 19 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
100101
  • Dane Cleaver 2 (4)
  • Tim Robinson 14 (10)
Gerald Coetzee2-0-11-0
1
Overs2.6
Score19 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Dane Cleaver, DROPPED! Jason Smith shells it. On top of off, on a good length. Cleaver jumps out of the crease and throws his hands at the ball. Hits it straight to cover, where the ball dips on Smith, but he had it covered as he dived forward. The ball bursts through his hands and goes behind. Single taken.

13:44 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs2.5
Score18 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Dane Cleaver, A sharp and quick bumper at the bodyline of the batter. Dane Cleaver ducks under it.

13:44 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs2.4
Score18 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Around leg, on a short of a length. Tim shovels it down to deep fine leg for a run.

13:43 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs2.3
Score17 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Another swing and a miss! Bashes the hard length, does Coetzee, over off and middle. Tim stays leg side of the ball and has a hoick across the line, only to miss.

13:43 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs2.2
Score17 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Not far away from crashing into the stumps! Wobble seam ball at 148 kph, on a good length, on off. Robinson stays rooted to the crease and swings for the hills. The ball cuts back in to beat the inside edge but the bounce takes it over the off stump.

13:42 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs2.1
Score17 - 1

Gerald Coetzee to Dane Cleaver, In the channel, on a good length, Cleaver dances down the track to go big on the leg side. Miscues it off the inner half to mid on for a single.

13:41 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 2 overs 16 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
210(W)1(1LB)40
  • Tim Robinson 13 (7)
  • Dane Cleaver 0 (1)
Wiaan Mulder1-0-7-1
0
Overs1.6
Score16 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Tim Robinson, Into the wicket, on middle. Tim keeps it out off the back foot.

13:40 (IST) Mar 25
4
Overs1.5
Score16 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Tim Robinson, FOUR! Stand and deliver! In and around the off stump, on a back of a length, Robinson stands tall and lofts it with a high elbow to the right of mid off for a boundary.

13:40 (IST) Mar 25
1lb
Overs1.4
Score12 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Dane Cleaver, Leg bye! Slightly too straight, at the hips. Cleaver is beaten on the flick. The ball goes off the pads behind square leg for a leg bye.

13:39 (IST) Mar 25

Dane Cleaver walks in at number 3.

13:38 (IST) Mar 25
W
Overs1.3
Score11 - 1

Wiaan Mulder to Katene Clarke, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Strangled down leg. An innocuous delivery, but Wiaan Mulder will take it. Sliding down leg, on a length. Clarke has a swing at it to get it away. The ball catches his gloves before going behind to the keeper. Connor Esterhuizen moves to his left and gobbles it up with ease. New Zealand are 11/1, chasing 188.

13:37 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs1.2
Score11 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tim Robinson, Tucking the batter up for room with a good-length delivery. Tim nurdles it behind square leg and crosses over.

13:36 (IST) Mar 25
2
Overs1.1
Score10 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tim Robinson, Moving away in the air, on a good length, Robinson gets on top of the bounce and punches it wide of deep cover for a couple of runs.

13:36 (IST) Mar 25

Wiaan Mulder to share the attack.

13:35 (IST) Mar 25
Score after 1 over 8 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
103013
  • Tim Robinson 6 (3)
  • Katene Clarke 2 (3)
Gerald Coetzee1-0-8-0
3
Overs0.6
Score8 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Drifting onto the pads, on the fuller side. Robinson brings his wrists into play and works it through square leg. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence, and the deep fine leg fielder mops it up. Three runs taken.

13:35 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs0.5
Score5 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Katene Clarke, Full and on off. Katene advances and firms the drive in front of mid off for a single.

13:34 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs0.4
Score4 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Katene Clarke, Angled into the right-hander, on a hard length. Clarke stabs it down on the leg side.

13:33 (IST) Mar 25
3
Overs0.3
Score4 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Fuller and a hint of away shape, on off and middle. Tim Robinson moves away from the stumps towards the leg side and has a swing across the line. Miscues it off a leading edge over point. The deep third fielder gets around and slides to push the ball away from the fence. He saves a run for his side. Tim is off the mark with three runs.

13:33 (IST) Mar 25
0
Overs0.2
Score1 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Ouch, a painful blow! Extra bounce on display again, on a nagging length, on middle. Tim Robinson hangs back to deal with it but the ball nips back a touch to beat him on the inside edge and catches him on the box. Robinson is quick to get back up on his feet.

13:32 (IST) Mar 25
1
Overs0.1
Score1 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Katene Clarke, Clarke and New Zealand are away with a quick single. Gerald Coetzee hits the deck hard and gets the ball to deck away with a bit of lift from the surface. Katene rises with the bounce and drops it on the off side before hurrying to the other end.

13:30 (IST) Mar 25

Welcome back. The South African players are out in the middle. Tim Robinson and Katene Clarke to open for New Zealand. Gerald Coetzee to bowl first. Let's play...

13:27 (IST) Mar 25

... The Run Chase ...

13:27 (IST) Mar 25

A massive chase and the dew factor - The stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion to the 5th T20I with a series victory on the line. While a target of 188 is massive, the impending dew factor could play a significant role, potentially making the ball harder to grip for the South African bowlers and aiding the New Zealand batters. The Kiwis must find a hero to match Connor’s exploits if they are to chase this down and clinch the series, or the Proteas will complete a stunning comeback.

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