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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 highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2
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
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, A slower full-toss, dropping on the batter, Connor Esterhuizen flicks it from around his knees and lands this in the empty pocket around long leg for a couple of runs.
Josh Clarkson to Rubin Hermann, Low full-toss, around off, Rubin Hermann hammers this down the ground for another rotation of strike.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, A tad too full, around middle and off, Connor Esterhuizen pushes this down to long on for a strike rotation.
Josh Clarkson to Rubin Hermann, Full and wide of off, Rubin Hermann gets it away in the gap for a single down to long on.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, On a length around the pads, Connor Esterhuizen flicks this to deep mid-wicket for a strike rotation.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, NO BALL! A beamer from Josh around off, Connor Esterhuizen shuffles across and looks for the ramp but misses. No ball is signalled by the on-field umpire.
- Connor Esterhuizen 12 (7)
- Rubin Hermann 32 (23)
Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, Floated around off, Connor Esterhuizen rocks back onto his back foot and punches this in the gap for a run.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Tossed up, around off, Rubin Hermann smashes this to wide long on for a single.
Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, Full and on off, Connor Esterhuizen drills this down the ground for one.
Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, SIX! This can be taken as a dropped chance as well, with the way modern cricket is going. Tossed up, wide outside off, Connor Esterhuizen slogs this but gets more elevation than distance on it. The ball hangs around the boundary cushion at long on. Nick Kelly settles himself underneath but had to arch back a bit to attempt a rally catch but fails to even grab it and the ball lands on the other side of the rope for a biggie.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Darted into the batter, around middle and leg, Rubin Hermann goes deep inside the crease and nudges this through mid-wicket for a run.
Cole McConchie to Connor Esterhuizen, Fuller around the pads, Connor Esterhuizen flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.
- Rubin Hermann 30 (21)
- Connor Esterhuizen 3 (3)
Josh Clarkson to Rubin Hermann, A really tough chance goes begging. Slower one, around off, on a length. Rubin Hermann stays leg side and swings at it. Doesn't connect well as the ball catches the inner half of the blade and flies to the right of Josh Clarkson in his follow-through. Josh gets low and in time but the ball strikes his right palm and pops out.
Josh Clarkson to Rubin Hermann, Hard length, on top of off, going across the batter. Rubin punches this to mid off for a dot.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, Back of a length, around middle and leg, Connor Esterhuizen gently flicks this through square leg and takes a run.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, Short and wide of off, Connor Esterhuizen cuts this square and past the fielder at backward point to his right for a couple.
Josh Clarkson to Connor Esterhuizen, Good length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen gets up on his toes and pushes this to point.
Connor Esterhuizen is the next batter in for South Africa.
Josh Clarkson to Wiaan Mulder, OUT! CAUGHT! Josh Clarkson strikes on his first ball of this contest. Josh bowls a heavy ball, around off, shaping a hint away from the batter. Wiaan Mulder goes for a wild swing of his bat and ends up getting only a leading edge that hangs over the skipper of New Zealand, James Neesham, at covers. Neesham settles himself underneath and holds onto it. Wiaan Mulder departs for 31 (29).
Time for a drinks break. It has been a better showing from the Proteas to this point with Wiaan Mulder finally stepping up with the bat. Rubin Hermann started well but has been starved of strike and that might give the home side an opening against the southpaw. NZ will be hunting wickets as the Proteas still have a lot of firepower left in their tank.
- Wiaan Mulder 31 (28)
- Rubin Hermann 30 (19)
Ben Sears to Wiaan Mulder, Length delivery, outside off. Wiaan Mulder works it to deep point for a single. Much needed over from New Zealand. Just 3 runs off it.
Ben Sears to Wiaan Mulder, Oh, almost chopped on. A slower delivery, into the surface and on leg. Wiaan Mulder makes room to tuck it away but miscues and the ball almost rolls back onto the stumps.
Ben Sears to Wiaan Mulder, Shorter delivery, angling on leg. Wiaan Mulder tries to hoick it away but misses.
Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, Bowls in line of the stumps, length delivery. Hermann turns it to mid-wicket for a single.
Ben Sears to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length, around off. Wiaan Mulder pulls off the inner half of the blade to long on for a single.
Ben Sears to Wiaan Mulder, Angles in a length ball on leg. Wiaan Mulder backsaway, trying to fend it away but mistimes it back to Sears.
- Rubin Hermann 29 (18)
- Wiaan Mulder 29 (23)
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, FOUR! HIT HARD! Pace off again, touch short and outside off. Hermann powers it over McConchie's head and it races down to the long off fence. 18 runs off the over.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Slows up the pace and changes the angle, this is flat and outside off. Hermann punches it to cover.
Cole McConchie to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller ball, around off. Wiaan Mulder tucks it to long on for a single.
Cole McConchie to Wiaan Mulder, SIX! No one is stopping that. A half-tracker, around off, asking to be hit. Wiaan Mulder pulls it high and handsomely over mid-wicket for a biggie. Pressure on Cole McConchie.
Cole McConchie to Wiaan Mulder, SIX! Much needed for Mulder! Not that short, this is around off. Mulder rocks back, clears his front leg and powers it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs to his right and leaps but fails to hold on. Would have been an exceptional catch.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Tossed up, in line of the stumps. Hermann flicks it to deep square leg for a single.
- Wiaan Mulder 16 (20)
- Rubin Hermann 24 (15)
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, Lovely end to the over. Seams away off the deck, hard length and outside off. Wiaan Mulder fails to connect the width on offer.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, Slides it on a length and on leg. Wiaan Mulder looks to flick it away but misses. It brushes the pads on its way to the keeper.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, James Neesham just called the fielder at fine leg in. Pushes it very full and around off. Wiaan Mulder scoops it over the keeper. Ben Sears runs back from short fine leg and boots it away to save a couple.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length delivery, on top of off. Wiaan Mulder steps back and hammers it to cover. Zakary Foulkes dives to his right and saves a certain boundary.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, Wide! Too short, outside off. Wiaan Mulder steps across to paddle it away but misses.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! In the slot, fuller and on middle. Wiaan Mulder meets it with a straight bat, he lifts it down the ground, past Nick Kelly's dive from long on. A boundary. Fifty is up for South Africa.
James Neesham is into the attack.
James Neesham to Wiaan Mulder, James bangs it into the surface and around off, gets big on the batter. Wiaan Mulder makes a bit of room as he charges down but fails to hit it away.
- Wiaan Mulder 10 (14)
- Rubin Hermann 24 (15)
Cole McConchie to Wiaan Mulder, Tossed up on middle. Wiaan Mulder bunts it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Cole McConchie to Wiaan Mulder, Oh, could have gone anywhere! Cole McConchie slows up the pace as he pushes it onto the pads. Wiaan Mulder walks forward to flick but gets a leading edge, and it balloons in front of the cover fielder.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Tosses it up, around off, drifts in with the arm. Hermann knocks it through covers for one more.
Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Length delivery, around off. Hermann goes back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a brace.
Match Statistics
Venue
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
