NZ vs SA highlights, 4th T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 19 runs

A quick chat! Zakary Foulkes is full of praise for his teammates, singling out Kyle Jamieson for an amazing opening over and crediting Ben Sears for bowling very well through the middle. He also says that Cole McConchie has been equally impressive with the ball. On the total, Foulkes feels 160-odd is a score New Zealand would have happily taken at the start of the innings. He also has kind words for the fielding unit, saying Katene Clarke was awesome. He also points to the catch he took, as well as a few excellent saves in the field. On the challenge the pitch posed for South Africa, Foulkes details that it was a little niggly and suggests that the South African batters would not have had much experience playing on drop-in surfaces.

New Zealand's comeback - Despite the New Zealand captain, James Neesham, conceding a significant number of runs across his four overs, the rest of the bowling attack delivered a disciplined and clinical performance. The lone spinner, Cole McConchie, proved to be a standout by bowling with exceptional control, while Kyle Jamieson, Zakary Foulkes, and Ben Sears provided superb support through their respective spells. Collectively, their ability to apply pressure and pick up key wickets ensured a strong finish for the Black Caps, effectively neutralising the Proteas' early aggression.

Top order set the platform! After opting to bat first, South Africa faced an early setback with the loss of Wiaan Mulder, but the innings quickly gained traction through a productive partnership between Tony de Zorzi and Conner Esterhuizen. The duo added 50 runs during the Powerplay, highlighted by Esterhuizen reaching his maiden half-century. However, despite their efforts to maintain a high scoring rate, the momentum stalled as the middle order struggled to find its rhythm, ultimately preventing the Proteas from fully capitalising on their solid start.

Total good enough? The highest score South Africa have registered in this series, but once again, the fall of wickets has sucked the momentum out of the innings, and the Proteas have ended up with a little less score than they projected. New Zealand would have taken this score at the start, but with an inexperienced batting line-up, they need the newcomers to step up. 

Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, BEATEN! Intelligent bowling from Ben Sears in the final over as only 2 runs come off it. Hermann shows his cards early as he shuffles to the off side, setting himself up for a scoop. Sears reads it perfectly and sticks to his plan, firing in a yorker in the channel outside off. Hermann cannot lay bat on ball and gets beaten. SOUTH AFRICA FINISH AT 164/5​​​​​​.

Ben Sears to George Linde, At pace now, on a hard length, on the leg stump. George Linde is cramped up for space, tries to pull it across, but misses and the ball rolls off the thigh pad to backward point. They cross for a leg bye.

Ben Sears to George Linde, Misses it again! This has been an excellent last over from Sears so far. Pace off and short, on leg. George Linde shuffles far inside the line and tries to help it behind to the leg side, but fails to get any connection.

Ben Sears to George Linde, Deceptive slower one from Sears, on middle and off, short in length. George Linde clears the front leg, looks for the pull shot but gets beaten.

Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, Very full, on leg, Rubin smashes it to the mid on region for a single. They think for the second, but the fielder is quick to get on the ball, making them settle with a single only.

Ben Sears to bowl the last over of this innings. 

Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, Deceived! Rolls his fingers on the ball to take all the pace off. On a length, on top of middle. Rubin Hermann tries to pull, but he swings the bat in January and the ball arrives in December, beating him all ends up. 

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective! An overpitched delivery, aimed at the sticks. George Linde shuffles across and executes the scoop shot nicely over the keeper's head and gets a boundary. 16 runs from the penultimate over​​. Zakary Foulkes ends his spell with his figures reading 4-0-35-1.

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, Shoots in a full ball, on the stumps, Linde carves it through the mid on region for a couple of more runs.

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, From around the stump. This is full and on middle, angling in. George Linde attempts to flick it leg side, but gets a fat leading edge over mid off. Bevon Jacobs runs to his right from long off and intercepts the ball in the deep. Two taken.

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, FOUR! What a placement! Full from Zakary, on the leg stump. George Linde uses his bottom hand and flicks it off his wrists, bisecting deep mid-wicket and deep square leg fielders for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, WIDE! Far down the leg side, full in length. Linde lets it through to the keeper. Wide given.

Zakary Foulkes to George Linde, Well-directed short ball, around off. George Linde looks to pull it over the leg side but only manages a thick top edge. The ball flies over the keeper and is chased down by the short third fielder in the deep. Two taken.

Zakary Foulkes to Rubin Hermann, Pinpoint yorker, on middle, Rubin flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

George Linde walks out at 7 for South Africa. 

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Smith, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Wicket number 2 for Kyle Jamieson. A cross-seam delivery that skids through from a good length, on the stumps. Jason Smith stays put in the crease and attempts to launch it downtown, but doesn't get the whole of it. Slices it toward long off where Tim Robinson judges the trajectory nicely, and times his leap to perfection to grab it just ahead of the boundary ropes. South Africa are 146/5.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Smith, DROPPED, and to make things worse, it is a FOUR! Jamieson takes pace off, and lands it outside off, on a good length. It doesn't rise after pitching but Smith carves it over point. Josh Clarkson runs to his right, but puts it down and the ball then rolls back into the fence behind him.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Smith, Kyle slips in a full toss that dips below the waist of the batter, outside off. Jason Smith smashes it wide of mid off and they hustle back for the second run as long off chases it to his left.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Smith, Slower short delivery, fairly outside off. Jason Smith gets on the toes and tries to uppercut it, but misses to connect.

Kyle Jamieson to Rubin Hermann, Fullish in length, slightly outside off. Rubin Hermann knocks it to long off for a single. He is disappointed with himself for not putting that away.

Kyle Jamieson (3-1-21-1) is back into the attack.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Smith, Too full and outside off, Smith carves it down to long off for a single. Smith looks for the second, but there is none on offer and Rubin sends him back on a sharp call.

James Neesham to Rubin Hermann, FOUR! He has absolutely smashed that! On a fullish length, slower one by the looks of it, outside off. Rubin Hermann blasts it through the gap between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 15 runs from the over. James Neesham ends his spell with figures of 4-0-49-0.

James Neesham to Rubin Hermann, Smartly bowled! Wide yorker, at pace, outside off. Rubin Hermann fails to carve it out as it whistles past the outside edge.

James Neesham to Jason Smith, Full and straight, on off. Smith looks to drive it straightish, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls past the vacant mid on region for a single.

James Neesham to Jason Smith, SIX! Oh, that's a superb strike! Pace off at 115.2 kph, short on middle. Smith picks the length and pace off in a trice and nails the pull shot over deep square leg for a biggie.

James Neesham to Jason Smith, FOUR! Into the gap! At 125.1 kph, this is banged short, at the ribs. Jason Smith stands tall, rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

James Neesham to Jason Smith, Slower one, almost a yorker, on middle. Jason Smith tries to carve it out, but inside edges onto the back boot. Luckily for him, the ball rolls just past the off stump and goes to the keeper.

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, Full and onto the pads, Jason flicks this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, Slower one, back of a length, around off. Jason goes for a pull but misses out.

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, Bumper, around off, Jason Smith goes for a pull shot towards square leg but gets beaten.

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, Ben goes full, wide of off, Jason Smith drives this to point for another dot. 

Ben Sears to Jason Smith, Pitched up, around off, Smith pushes this to mid off for no run.

Ben Sears to Rubin Hermann, LEG BYE! On a length, down the leg, Rubin Hermann goes for a flick but misses. The ball clips off the front pad of Rubin and the batters cross as the ball rolls into the backward square leg region.

The next batter in is Jason Smith.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, OUT! LBW! Foulkes strikes now and breaks the budding partnership at a very crucial moment. Nails the yorker in the line of the stumps, Dian Forrester goes for a flick but fails to get bat on the ball and gets hit on his back shoe. A gentle appeal from the bowler and the umpire raises his finger. Dian Forrester sends this upstairs for a review. But three reds on the Ball Tracker with the ball thumping into the middle stump confirms the on field decision of OUT. South Africa are 121/4.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, Hard length, on off, Dian Forrester dabs this to point for no run.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, SIX! High and handsome. On a length, slanting down the leg, Dian Forrester uses the depth of the crease and rocks back before he slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a massive six. 

Zakary Foulkes to Rubin Hermann, Full and around off, going away from the batter. Rubin Hermann flicks this through mid on for another run.

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, Back of a length, around middle and off, Dian Forrester pulls this to long on for a single. 

Zakary Foulkes to Dian Forrester, Good length, on off, Dian Forrester goes for a cut but doesn't find the right timing on it and ends up chopping this off the under-edge back to the keeper.

A fine spell from Cole McConchie comes to an end. Zakary Foulkes (2-0-11-0) is back on.

Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Tossed up, around off, Rubin Hermann looks to go big and loft this over covers but ends up pumping this to extra cover on the bounce for no run.

Cole McConchie to Dian Forrester, Fired into the batter, Dian Forrester cuts this to sweeper cover for a strike rotation.

Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Fuller around off, Rubin Hermann drives this down to long off for one.

Cole McConchie to Rubin Hermann, Top effort in the deep! Short of a length, on middle and off, Rubin Hermann hangs onto the back foot and smashes this down the ground. Katene Clarke puts in a good effort, sliding to his left and palming this just inside the playing area for a couple. The converging long on fielder collects the ball and throws it back to the bowler. The replay confirms that Katene has done a fine job to save two for his side with no part of his body in contact with the ropes while holding the ball. The debutant has been absolutely electric in the field so far and that's what uplifts the spirits of the side.