Image source: Backpage Pix
T20
T20 5 of 5
New Zealand vs South Africa
Hagley Oval
Christchurch, New Zealand
Wednesday, 25 March
Fifth T20 encounter to commence is at 08:15
As the curtain closes on what has been an exciting T20 Series between New Zealand and South Africa, the Black Caps and Proteas will leave it to the last encounter with the series tied at 2-2 ahead of their clash in Christchurch on Wednesday.
The Proteas levelled the series at 2-2 on Sunday after recording a 19-run victory against New Zealand at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, putting up a score of 164 across 20 overs. Twenty-four-year-old Connor Esterhuizen led the charge for the Proteas, recording 57 runs from 36 balls before Benjamin Spears dismissed him in the ninth over.
Tony de Zorzi contributed 23 runs from 21 balls to South Africa’s score, while Rubin Hermann remained at the crease for the innings with 28 runs from 25 balls.
With New Zealand taking to the wicket, the Black Caps suffered an early blow as Katene Clarke fell in the second over with the scoreline reading 28/1.
Tim Robinson, New Zealand’s highest scorer on the day, was next to go after Gerald Coetzee eliminated the batsman in the fifth over, walking off with 32 runs from 22 balls. Dane Cleaver and Nick Kelly accumulated 45 runs from 36 balls together, while Coetzee was clinical in taking out Josh Clarkson and Kyle Jamieson at the tail end of the NZ batting order as the hosts managed only 145 runs in 18.5 overs.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
With the result secured, Proteas wicket-keeper Connor Esterhuizen claimed his first international Player of the Match Award, as the 24-year-old hopes to gain as much experience as possible from the Series in New Zealand.
"I've loved every second of my first tour with the Proteas," Esterhuizen said.
"The lessons I think I'd take are probably just the pressure and the scrutiny and how to sort of deal with it. I don't think anyone masters how to deal with it or anything like that. But I think the more you do it, the more accustomed you become to it.
"That’s the main message that coach Shuks said to us before the tour, especially us newcomers, that the pressure will be the sort of scrutiny and everything is looked at through a microscope, and just how to deal with that. I think those are the lessons I'll probably take back to South Africa."
Head-to-head
T20 encounters
Games: 24
New Zealand wins: 10
South Africa wins: 14
Draws:0
T20 New Zealand vs South Africa Fixtures:
Wednesday, 25 March
New Zealand vs South Africa (Hagley Oval)
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