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South Africa's 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen made a case for a middle order spot in the regular side with a carnage-filled 33-ball 75 against New Zealand in T20I series decider. In the fifth T20I of the series on March 25, visitors South Africa beat T20 World Cup 2026 finalists New Zealand by 33 runs to win series 3-2.
Esterhuizen's impact knock
In the battle of the second-string sides at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, stand-in skipper James Neesham won the toss and opted to bowl first. Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder couldn't get off to a blazing start. In the fourth over, De Zorzi got out lbw to Zakary Foulkes for a 14-ball 12. In the next over, Rubin Hermann hit Ben Sears for a six and two fours. After powerplay overs, Proteas were 43/1. Mulder broke the shackles in the ninth over, hitting off-spinner Cole McConchie for two consecutive sixes. His comeback was short-lived as Josh Clarkson dismissed for a 29-ball 31 in the 11th over.
Esterhuizen did not take many deliveries to hit his first six. At the start of the slog overs, Sears got the wicket of Hermann who scored 39 runs off 31 balls. Esterhuizen took charge and hit McConchie for two sixes in the 17th over. In the next over, he reached his second consecutive fifty from 25 balls. In the final over, he hit Kyle Jamieson for a four and a six. Then, Dian Forrester hit a massive 110 metre six. In the final over Esterhuizen hit a six and a four before losing his wicket to Sears. His knock was studded with five fours and six sixes. It helped South Africa post 187/4. On the other end, Forrester remained unbeaten for a 13-ball 21.
Kiwi struggle after powerplay overs
In the run chase, Clarke fell in Mulder's first over. Dane Cleaver tried to utilise the powerplay overs, hitting Mulder for three consecutive fours. In the sixth over, Ottneil Baartman dismissed Cleaver for a 17-ball 22. The hosts were 46/2 after powerplay overs. No boundaries were scored for the next four overs. Also, Tim Robinson was run out for a 20-ball 25. New Zealand were 65/3 at the halfway stage.
Jacobs' cameo in vain
Maharaj ended Nick Kelly's stay at the crease. He scored just 14 runs from 18 balls. Bevon Jacobs tried to revive the run chase. In the 15th over, he hit Maharaj for a couple of sixes. But, his fightback was short-lived. Baartman returned to dismiss him for a 19-ball 36. The required run rate slipped out of the grasp. Gerald Coetzee struck twice in the penultimate over, dismissing Clarkson and McConchie. In the final over, Neesham departed for a run-a-ball 24 to Mulder. New Zealand managed to post 154/8, losing the match by 33 runs. South Africa won the series 3-2.
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