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

A quick word - When asked about his one-handed stunner, Nick Kelly shares that he is lucky that it stuck and admits that before the catch, there was frustration creeping in when things were not going their way. Feels that after having South Africa 76/1 at the halfway mark, it would have been nice to restrict them to 170. Mentions that it looks like a pretty good wicket, and with it being a big ground, running between the wickets will be key. He reckons that it will be important for them to have wickets in hand going into the death overs.

Kiwis lose their way at the death - New Zealand captain Neesham will likely be frustrated with how the innings concluded. While the Kiwis maintained decent control during the first 10 overs, their discipline slipped significantly as Connor took charge. Ben Sears was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Zakary Foulkes and Josh Clarkson chipped in with one apiece, but the bowling unit ultimately struggled to contain the late-inning onslaught. 

The middle-order recovery - The innings did not start smoothly for the Proteas, as Tony’s lean patch continued with an early dismissal. However, Wiaan Mulder and Rubin Hermann managed to steady the ship, knitting together a crucial partnership that laid the necessary platform for the later hitters. Both batters contributed valuable scores in the 30s, while Dian Forrester provided a late spark with a solid cameo of 21, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking over.

Connor’s firepower sets the tone - South Africa finishes their 20 overs with a commanding total of 187 on the board, largely thanks to a breathtaking display of power hitting from Connor Esterhuizen. Stepping up when it mattered most, he played a lethal knock of 75 runs off just 33 balls, effectively shifting the momentum in the visitors' favour. His aggression in the back half of the innings turned a steady start into a daunting target, leaving the New Zealand bowlers struggling for answers. 

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, A single to end the innings! Dug in short, over middle. Smith swivels for the pull but does not pick the slower one. Gets an inside edge onto the body and he is called through for a single by Forrester as the ball drops at his feet. South Africa finish with 187.

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, A swing and a miss! Sears takes pace off and bowls it on a good length, outside off. Smith swings at it but fails to lay any bat on it.

Ben Sears to Connor Esterhuizen, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Connor Esterhuizen will be disappointed with himself. The ball was there to be hit, but a fine knock nonetheless. Ben Sears tries the yorker but it comes out as a thigh-high full toss, on off. Esterhuizen looks to launch it down the ground but gets the height and not the distance. James Neesham settles under the skier at long off and makes no mistake. End of a sparkling knock from Connor, 75 runs off 33 balls.

Ben Sears to Connor Esterhuizen, FOUR! Put away with ease! Cross-seam delivery by Sears. Too full, too wide and Esterhuizen does not miss out. Connor extends his hands and carves it over cover for a four.

Ben Sears to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! Incredible shot! Sears bashes the surface, over off. Connor Esterhuizen stays deep in the crease and stands tall to play it on the up. Lofts it off the back foot, away from the man at deep cover to his right for a six.

Ben Sears to Connor Esterhuizen, Two is the call, and they get it! Low full toss, on off. Connor Esterhuizen just checks his shot and whips it to the right of long on for a brace. The 50-run stand comes up in just 24 balls.

19 came off the 19th over. Ben Sears will be bowling the final over of this innings. 

Kyle Jamieson to Dian Forrester, SIX! That has gone back many a mile! Kyle Jamieson goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, across off. Dian Forrester climbs into it as he smokes it beyond deep mid-wicket for a six. Parks it on the tent on the grass banks.

Kyle Jamieson to Dian Forrester, Going across the left-hander, on a length, Dian Forrester is through the swing early and fails to connect.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, Nails the yorker, angled in at the toes. Connor jams it out through wide mid on for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! All the way! Kyle Jamieson goes short but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. On middle, Connor Esterhuizen stands tall and unleashes the pull over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. That will add to the frustration of Jamieson.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, FOUR! Smashed! Pitched up, full and on middle. Connor Esterhuizen clears the front leg and drills it to the left of long on for a boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, PUT DOWN! Tougher chance than the previous one but Katene Clarke should have taken it, having got there. Full and at the sticks. Connor Esterhuizen has a swing across the line but he does so so very early. Skies it towards the vacant mid-wicket region, where Clarke runs in off the ropes and bends to take the catch around his left knee but cannot cling on. Connor collects a couple of runs.

Zakary Foulkes to Connor Esterhuizen, FIFTY for Connor Esterhuizen! Maiden T20I fifty in the last game and Connor has followed it up with another half-century. Banged in short, over middle. Esterhuizen pulls it through mid-wicket for a single to bring up a 25-ball fifty.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, DROPPED! Bevon Jacobs has put down a sitter. Low full toss, across off. Dian Forrester swings to go down the ground but gets it right off the toe end of the blade. It goes straight down the throat of long on, where Jacobs runs in off the ropes. The ball hits his palm before dropping to the ground.

Zakary Foulkes to Connor Esterhuizen, Leg bye! Off-pace delivery, angled into the pads, on a length. Esterhuizen misses out on the glance. The batters sneak in a leg bye as the ball dribbles beside the strip on the leg side.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, Right at the base of the middle stump. Forrester digs it out to extra cover for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, Dug in short, pace taken off, on off. Dian swings for the pull but fails to pick the change of pace and ends up missing.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, FOUR! Nicely done! Not much wrong with the ball. Wide yorker from Foulkes, near the tramline. Dian Forrester reaches out and gets low to slice it over the man at short third for a boundary. The 150 is up for South Africa.

Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! Onto the grass banks! Cole McConchie errs in his length as he allows the batter to get right under the ball. On a length, on middle and leg. Esterhuizen clears the front leg and deposits it behind square leg for a biggie. 15 runs off the over!

Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, Right in the blockhole, in line with the leg stump. Connor Esterhuizen plays the sweep but can't get it past short fine leg.

Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! Hit flat and hard! Sliding across the right-hander, on a length, Connor Esterhuizen gets down on a knee and nails the slog sweep wide of deep mid-wicket for his third six.

Cole McConchie to Dian Forrester, Very full, not allowing the batter to get under the ball. Dian Forrester can only hit this along the ground to long off. They cross.

Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, Leg bye! Flat and short, around leg, Connor Esterhuizen crouches and looks to swing it away behind square but fails to lay any bat on it. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes towards short fine leg.

Cole McConchie to Dian Forrester, Pushed through, full and on off, Forrester knocks it down to long off and crosses over.

Ben Sears to Dian Forrester, Short and on middle and off, Dian Forrester fends this through square leg for a single. 

Ben Sears to Dian Forrester, Good length, onto the pads, Dian Forrester flicks this through mid-wicket and takes a couple. 

Ben Sears to Dian Forrester, Another excellent bit of ground fielding from Kelly as he half-stops a rocket from the bat of Dian Forrester and saves two for the side. On a length, around off, Dian Forrester pumps this visciously towards the left of Kelly at mid off. Kelly puts in a dive, gets a bit of hand to it and takes the sting out of it. Keeps it down to two.

Ben Sears to Dian Forrester, Short and around off, Dian Forrester cuts this square through point for a couple. 

Ben Sears to Dian Forrester, Short and around off, Dian Forrester swings and misses.

Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, OUT! SCORCHER FROM KELLY! Heavy ball, into the batter from Ben Sears. Rubin Hermann rocks onto his back foot and goes for a pull but ends up mistiming it and the ball hangs towards the space at mid on. Nick Kelly reads the flight of it early and runs across from mid off to mid on, puts in a dive, grabs it one-handed into his left hand and manages to hold onto it. An absolute stunner from Nick Kelly to send Rubin Hermann back in the dugout. 

James Neesham to Connor Esterhuizen, FOUR! Glorious from Connor. Pitched-up delivery, around off, Connor Esterhuizen presses towards the pitch of the ball and drives this all along the ground through the extra cover region for a boundary. 

James Neesham to Rubin Hermann, Low full toss, wide of off, Rubin Hermann thumps this down to long off for a run.

James Neesham to Connor Esterhuizen, On a length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen gets an inside edge onto the pads for a single as the ball rolls through silly point.

James Neesham to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! Dismissed from the get-go. Short and around middle and leg, Connor Esterhuizen gets indie the line and pulls this out of the park towards the deep square leg region for a massively hit biggie. 

James Neesham to Rubin Hermann, Wide yorker, around off, Rubin Hermann punches this to long off for a strike rotation. 

James Neesham to Connor Esterhuizen, Full and on off, Connor Esterhuizen pumps this down the ground to long on for a run.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, Good length, on off, Connor Esterhuizen drives this through mid off for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, Back of a length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen punches this straight back to the bowler to his left. Kyle Jamieson gets a bit of hand to it and the ball diverts off its actual trajectory and goes just past the stumps on the other end, where Rubin Hermann was struggling to make his ground after backing up initially. 

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, FOUR! Short and around leg, Connor Esterhuizen once again, shuffles across, gets inside the line and dabs this through the left of short fine leg for a boundary. 

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, WIDE! Back of a length, down the leg again, Connor Esterhuizen gets inside the line and looks for a flick but misses out. Wide given. 

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg, Connor Esterhuizen goes for a flick and misses. Wided. 

Kyle Jamieson to Rubin Hermann, Back of a length, around middle and leg, Rubin Hermann mistimes the pull and gets it away through mid-wicket for one run.

Kyle Jamieson to Rubin Hermann, Slower one, going across the batter, around off, Rubin Hermann swings at it a bit too hard and misses out.

Kyle Jamieson to Rubin Hermann, On a length, going across the batter around his off-pole. Rubin Hermann goes for a slog but ends up getting a top edge that lands towards deep third and the batters take a brace. 

Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, FOUR! Finally, Connor gets hold of one and hits this in the gap for four. Full toss, wide outside off, Connor Esterhuizen drives this aerially, over the fielder at extra cover for a boundary.