NZ vs SA highlights, 1st T20I: South Africa crush New Zealand by 7 wickets

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, In the channel, bowled into the surface, Esterhuizen stands tall and dabs it to point.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, This is in line with the off stump, on a short of a length. Connor gets right behind the line and pats it down the strip.

Kyle Jamieson to Rubin Hermann, Going away, on a good length, on top of off. Hermann stays back and glides it behind point with an open bat face for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, A bit of lift off the deck, on a back of a length, outside off. Esterhuizen runs it down to deep third and crosses over.

Kyle Jamieson to Connor Esterhuizen, Wide! Drifting down leg, on a good length. Connor Esterhuizen misses out on the glance.

Zakary Foulkes to Rubin Hermann, Bowled from wide of the crease, on a good length, on middle. Rubin Hermann hangs back and blocks it out. End of a successful over for Foulkes and New Zealand.

Zakary Foulkes to Rubin Hermann, Pushes the length up, moving away a touch. Hermann covers the line and defends it with a straight bat.

Rubin Hermann walks out at 3 for South Africa. 

Zakary Foulkes to Tony de Zorzi, OUT! CAUGHT! A well-judged catch by Bevon Jacobs. New Zealand have an early wicket but they will need more than just one. Foulkes goes short, on off. Tony looks to pull this one off the front foot but his body weight is on the back foot. He has a swing across the line but skies it towards wide mid on. Jacobs runs over his left shoulder and takes a fine catch. South Africa are 7/1, chasing 92.

Zakary Foulkes to Tony de Zorzi, From around the wicket for the left-hander, on a length, on leg. Tony flicks it off the pads but picks out the man at mid-wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Connor Esterhuizen, Swinging back in at the hips, on a back of a length. Connor gets on his toes and flicks it behind square leg. He opens his account with a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Connor Esterhuizen, This hoops back into the right-hander, full and attacking the front pad. Connor Esterhuizen brings his bat out in front and keeps it out watchfully.

Zakary Foulkes will be bowling from the other end. 

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, This is fuller in length, moving back in, on middle. De Zorzi stabs it down on the deck.

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, A big swing and a miss! A bit of shape back into the left-hander, on a short of a length, on middle and leg. Tony de Zorzi shimmies down the track and has a heave across the line but is beaten on the inside edge.

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, On a good length, outside off. De Zorzi extends his hands and guides it to backward point.

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, Across off, on a hard length. Tony looks to ride the bounce and punch it away on the off side. Miscues the shot and hits it a lot straighter to the left of mid off for a couple of runs.

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, FOUR LEG BYES! South Africa are underway. Down leg, on a back of a length, Tony swivels for the pull but is late on the shot. The ball brushes his thigh pad on the way to the keeper. Tom Latham dives to his right but can only get a hand on it. It is not enough as the ball races behind for a boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Tony de Zorzi, Bashes the hard length, on off. Tony de Zorzi rises with the bounce and angles it down to backward point.

Welcome back for South Africa's reply. Mitchell Santner and his men walk out to the middle. Kass Naidoo informs that Jordan Hermann will bat only if needed. In case you missed it, he pulled his hamstring in the field. Tony de Zorzi and Connor Esterhuizen are the two openers for the Proteas. Kyle Jamieson will steam in first up. Tony is on strike. Let's go...

... The Run Chase ...

Clinical Proteas on the charge - It was a masterclass in disciplined bowling from South Africa. Mokena spearheaded the destruction with a superb three-wicket haul, while the rest of the attack, barring Dian Forrester, chipped in with two wickets each. Despite an injury concern for Jordan Hermann, the Proteas enter the break with all the momentum. Chasing a meagre target of 92, the South African batting unit should breathe easy as they look to go 1-0 up in the series.

A quick word - South African pacer, Gerald Coetzee believes that they bowled well in partnerships and that every bowler played his part. Showers praise on Nqobani Mokoena, saying that he is a calm, cool and collected guy, and it is as if he has already played 50 games. Mentions that this is an important series for them. Further adds that they are not here to prove anything and just want to enjoy this opportunity as a group.

Neesham’s lone hand - In a batting performance defined by poor shot selection and a lack of application, James Neesham emerged as the top scorer. His gritty knock in the 20s was the only reason the total approached the 100-run mark. While he tried to anchor the backend of the innings, he lacked any meaningful support from the other end as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

No respite for the Kiwis - The nightmare didn't end when the field restrictions were lifted. South Africa refused to take their foot off the gas, consistently hitting tight lines and disciplined areas. The scorecard tells a grim story of New Zealand’s struggles, with the team eventually bundled out for just 91 in under 15 overs. Only four batters managed to reach double figures, and a solitary partnership crossing the 25-run mark highlights a complete lack of resistance.

Disaster in the powerplay - The toss appears to be the only win of the day for New Zealand. From the very first over, the Kiwis were pinned to the wall, unable to find any rhythm against a clinical South African attack. The Powerplay was a total collapse as, instead of setting a platform, New Zealand limped to 36 for 5 within the first six overs. The relentless pressure from the Proteas’ pace battery gave the top order no breathing space, virtually ending the contest before it truly began in the first innings itself as New Zealand got bowled out for just 91.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! All over for New Zealand. The Kiwis have been rolled over for 91. Nqobani Mokoena bends his back and digs it in short, over middle. Cole McConchie premeditates as he gives the bowler the charge. He fails to get on top of the bounce and the ball catches the upper half of the blade. It is spooned towards long on, where Rubin Hermann runs across to his right and takes the catch around his thigh. Mokoena finishes with a three-wicket haul on debut.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, Wide! Dug in short but this sails over the batter's head. Wide given for height.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, Serves the slower ball and keeps it away from the batter's arc. On a length, near the tramline, Cole swings but fails to connect.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, FOUR! Thrashed! Into the surface, over middle. Cole McConchie jumps out of the crease and stays leg side of the ball. Slams it uppishly but away from the cover fielder to his right for a boundary.

Keshav Maharaj to Kyle Jamieson, OUT! TIMBER! Keshav Maharaj strikes on the last ball of his spell. Bowled with a flatter trajectory and this is fuller, in line with the off stump. Kyle Jamieson goes back to a ball he was better off playing off the front foot. The ball keeps coming in with the arm and sneaks under the blade before crashing into the off stump. Ben Sears is the last man in.

Keshav Maharaj to Kyle Jamieson, A bit fuller now, on middle. Jamieson turns it to mid-wicket from the crease.

Keshav Maharaj to Kyle Jamieson, Darted in, on the shorter side, on middle. Kyle nudges it to mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj to Kyle Jamieson, This is dropped short, on off, Jamieson punches it off the back foot and it goes straight to Tony de Zorzi at cover. Tony fails to get low enough and the ball goes through his legs. Two runs taken.

Keshav Maharaj to Kyle Jamieson, Sliding into the pads, full in length. Kyle Jamieson clips it to mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj to Cole McConchie, Hands on head for Maharaj! Pushed through from around the wicket, on a length at the stumps. Cole McConchie hops back to punch it away. The ball goes off an outside edge to short third for a single.

Another one bites the dust. Kyle Jamieson walks out to bat.

Nqobani Mokoena to Zakary Foulkes, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The combination of Connor and Nqobani strikes again as NZ lose their 8th wicket now. Short and close to the off-stump, Zakary Foulkes hops up on his toes and looks to guide this away to the third man region, but manages only an outside edge into the hands of the South African keeper. 

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, Hard length, around off, Cole McConchie punches this through the covers region for a rotation of strike.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, Good length around off, Cole McConchie defends this off his front foot.

Nqobani Mokoena to Cole McConchie, WIDE! Bumper, around off. Cole McConchie goes for a pull but misses. Wided.

Nqobani Mokoena to Zakary Foulkes, Good length, wide of off, Zakary Foulkes dabs this to the third man region for a strike rotation.

Nqobani Mokoena to Zakary Foulkes, Short and on middle and off, Zakary Foulkes nudges this to mid-wicket.

Zakary Foulkes walks in next.

A sorry sight as misfortune has struck Jordan Hermann on his debut. Rubin Hermann walks over to give a hug to his brother. Nqobani Mokoena returns to the attack. 2-0-18-0 so far for the debutant.

Nqobani Mokoena to James Neesham, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Maiden international wicket for Mokoena. Slower one, full and going across the batter. James Neesham goes for a slog before the ball arrives and ends up edging this off the outside for a regulation catch to the keeper, Connor Esterhuizen, behind the stumps. New Zealand are now 80 for 7.

Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, Quicker one, around off, James Neesham blocks this off his front foot towards covers and takes a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Cole McConchie, Pushed through wide of off, Cole McConchie rocks back and slashes hard at it. Gets it toe-poked through the left of the fielder at short third for another three runs.

Jordan Hermann is feeling the hamstring in his right leg. He has walked off the field and called for medical attention on the sidelines.

Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, Fired onto the pads, James Neesham rocks back and tucks this through square leg for a single.