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- NZ vs SA highlights, 1st T20I: South Africa crush New Zealand by 7 wickets
NZ vs SA highlights, 1st T20I: South Africa crush New Zealand by 7 wickets
The visitors' seam attack proved unplayable early on as World Cup finalists New Zealand were reduced to 36-5 before being dismissed for 91 in the 15th over, their 10th lowest total in T20s.
South Africa eased to 93-3 in response, with opener Connor Esterhuizen's unbeaten 45 off 48 balls ensuring they would claim early honours in the five-match series.
The 24-year-old was one of four South African players making their international debut in any format, alongside Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena.
Teenage pace bowler Mokoena impressed with the ball, exploiting unpredictable bounce at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval to take 3-26 off 3.3 overs.
The 19-year-old ripped through New Zealand's tail to ensure they didn't push their total past 100.
"It was quite cool making my debut. I just went out there and enjoyed it," Mokoena, 19, said.
"The whole team was backing me and I was quite excited for it.
"I just stuck to my plans and thank God it came off."
Fellow pacemen Gerald Coetzee and Ottneil Baartman took two wickets each for South Africa.
The match came a week after New Zealand were beaten by India in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Only captain Mitchell Santner and allrounder Jimmy Neesham were retained, with most of New Zealand's leading players rested.
Santner was the pick of their bowlers, taking 1-8 off four overs while Neesham top-scored with 26 before he was Mokoena's first victim.
South Africa's last match was their World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand.
The only Proteas survivor from that match was spinner Keshav Maharaj, who is captain for this series and played his 50th T20 international.
Game two is in Hamilton on Tuesday.
Ottneil Baartman to Mitchell Santner, Good length, around off, Mitchell Santner defends this around covers.
The skipper, Mitchell Santner, comes out to bat with his side in need of stability.
Ottneil Baartman to Nick Kelly, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Ottneil Baartman disturbs the wooden frame and Nick Kelly has to walk back with New Zealand in deep trouble at 21 for 4. On a length, into the line of the stumps. Nick Kelly hangs his bat out to cover the line but the ball nips back to sneak past the inside edge and rattles the timber. Two wickets in the over for Baartman.
Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, Hard length, on off, Bevon Jacobs dabs this around point for one.
New Zealand's top three back in the hut inside 4 overs. Bevon Jacobs makes his way out to the centre. A slip in place for the new batter.
Ottneil Baartman to Tim Robinson, OUT! It goes from bad to worse for New Zealand. A tad full, and on middle and leg, Tim Robinson looks to loft this over mid on but his bat tilts in his hands at the time of contact with the ball. Tim ends up hitting this in front of mid on, where George Linde puts in a dive in front and takes a good catch as he sends Robinson back.
Ottneil Baartman to Nick Kelly, TWO WIDES! Good length, wide down the leg side. Nick Kelly leaves it. The keeper dives to his right and does well to get a bit of glove to it. The batters run one off the wide as well.
Ottneil Baartman to Nick Kelly, Back of a length, around off, Nick doesn't offer any stroke at it. Nick is giving the impression of a compact player with the way he is leaving such deliveries.
Ottneil Baartman comes into the attack as the first change.
- Nick Kelly 2 (3)
- Tim Robinson 6 (4)
Gerald Coetzee to Nick Kelly, Clever from Gerald Coetzee as he bowls this a lot slower and fuller and also rolls his fingers around this. Nick Kelly is early into the drive and ends up lobbing this just behind point for a single.
Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Good length, on top of middle and off. Tim Robinson drives this through mid on and takes a single.
Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Short around leg, Tim Robinson gets inside the line and goes for a ramp but misses.
Gerald Coetzee to Nick Kelly, Well, back to normalcy as Nick Kelly dances down the track and swings at it wildly. Gets this length delivery away to deep third and takes a run.
Gerald Coetzee to Nick Kelly, In the channel, around off, Nick Kelly prods in front, covers his off-stump and offers a leave here. A leave in T20 cricket. A rarity.
Gerald Coetzee to Nick Kelly, WIDE! Full and way too wide outside the off-stump. Nick Kelly chases this but fails to get bat on ball. Wided.
New Zealand find themselves in a spot of bother. Nick Kelly comes out to bat on debut.
Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, OUT! LBW! Double delight for Gerald Coetzee as he gets the other opener as well. Gerald Coetzee bowls this from over the stumps, lands it within the stick and shapes it back into the batter. The ball skids through as well and that was enough to get the better of Tom Latham. The southpaw is hit on the front pad while attempting a flick and a gentle appeal is all the umpire needed to raise his finger. Latham walks to the other end and gets into a consultation with Tim regarding the review, but opts against it and walks back.
Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, WIDE! Good length, way too wide down the leg side. Tom looks for the scoop but misses. Wide given by the umpire.
- Tom Latham 7 (5)
- Tim Robinson 5 (2)
Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Short and on middle and off, Tom Latham pulls this on the bounce to deep square leg for one run.
Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, FOUR! Edged and gone for four. On a length, going across the left-hander. Tom Latham presses in front and goes for a drive but gets an outside edge that takes the ball away from the keeper to his left and floats across the turf for a boundary towards the third man region.
Nqobani Mokoena to Tim Robinson, Inswinging delivery, full and on off, Tim Robinson dabs this to the right of Hermann at point and takes a single.
Nqobani Mokoena to Tim Robinson, FOUR! Hammered away for four on the first delivery he faces in this contest. Short and on off, Tim Robinson picks up the length early, stays deep inside the crease and pulls this in front of square over the fielder at mid-wicket for four runs.
Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Hard length, around off, Tom Latham stays deep inside his crease and punches this to Dian Forrester at covers and sneaks one.
Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Good length, around off, Tom guides this to backward point.
South Africa strike early. In walks Tim Robinson at number 3. He usually opens the innings. First look at the 19-year-old right-arm quick. Here's Nqobani Mokoena on debut.
- Devon Conway 1 (5)
- Tom Latham 1 (1)
Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, OUT! CAUGHT! Devon Conway holes out to Tony de Zorzi at mid-wicket and NZ are 1 down for just 2. Short and into the batter, at a rapid pace. Devon Conway decides to go with the pull but gets really late on it. Ends up miscuing it straight into the hands of Tony at mid-wicket. Tony had to adjust a bit before holding onto it as he mistimed his jump.
Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, Gerald Coetzee saw the shimmy from Conway early and changed his length as he went full and really wide of off but within the tramline. Third dot on a trot.
Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, Slower one, back of a length, into the batter. Devon Conway goes for a gentle flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.
Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, Gerald comes around the stumps, bowls it on a hard length, tailing it back into the batter. Devon hops up on his toes and goes for the flick but misses and gets hit around his thigh pad.
Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Another inswinging delivery on off, Tom Latham punches this to point. A misfield from Jason Smith allows Latham to take a single and get off the mark as well.
As many as four South Africans will be playing their first international match - Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena.
Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, A little bit of swing on offer for Gerald Coetzee first up as he bowls this full and wide outside off. Devon slices this to deep third for a single to get off the mark.
New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to bat
Time to get going. Keshav Maharaj leads his troops out onto the park. It will be Devon Conway and Tom Latham to open the innings for New Zealand. Gerald Coetzee will start with the new ball for the tourists. Conway to face the first ball. A slip in place. Here we go!
We are moments away from the first ball, but before that, the two teams will line up for the national anthems. A minute's silence is observed to remember the lives lost in the tragic landslide in Mount Maunganui earlier this year. Time for the national anthems now. It will be South Africa's national anthem first, followed by that of New Zealand.
Happy for the debutants - South Africa's captain, Keshav Maharaj confirms that while the Proteas also preferred to bat first, he believes the Bay Oval surface remains a high-quality wicket for a successful chase. Making his debut appearance at Mount Maunganui, Maharaj embraces the ground’s family-oriented atmosphere and expresses high expectations for his squad’s newcomers. Maharaj highlights that debutants like Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, and Nqobani Mokoena have earned their spots through consistent domestic performances, and he anticipates a high-energy performance fueled by the excitement and buzz of this fresh South African lineup.
Looking forward to this series - The skipper of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner shares that it is good to be back home, and he welcomes the challenge of facing a quality side like South Africa at home. Mentions that the pitch has a subcontinental look and expects it to be on the slower side. Adds that being a spinner, he likes how the surface looks, and they gathered good intel from the earlier women's game.
South Africa (Playing XI) - Connor Esterhuizen (WK) (On debut), Jordan Hermann (On debut), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester (On debut), George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (C), Nqobani Mokoena (On debut) and Ottneil Baartman.
New Zealand (Playing XI) - Devon Conway, Tom Latham (WK), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly (On debut), Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears.
Match Statistics
Venue
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
