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New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st T20I Match Summary

NZ vs SA, 2026 - T20 Summary

New Zealand vs South Africa Scorecard
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Match Ended   
1st T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui , Mar 15, 2026
New Zealand New Zealand
91 (14.3/20)
South Africa South Africa
93/3 (16.4/20)
South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets
  • Player of the Match
    Nqobani Mokoena
    3/26(3.3)
NZ 91/10
Bat Top Batsmen
<a href=/cricket/players/1441-james-neesham-playerprofile>James Neesham</a>
James Neesham
26 (21)
  • 2x4s
  • 1x6s
  • 123.80SR
Cole McConchie
Cole McConchie
15 (11)
  • 1x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 136.36SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
Nqobani Mokoena
ECON 7.42
3.3
OVERS
26/3
R/W
Bowler
Gerald Coetzee
ECON 4.66
3
OVERS
14/2
R/W
SA 93/3
Bat Top Batsmen
<a href=/cricket/players/117289-connor-esterhuizen-playerprofile>Connor Esterhuizen</a>
Connor Esterhuizen
45 (48)
  • 2x4s
  • 2x6s
  • 93.75SR
<a href=/cricket/players/135347-dian-forrester-playerprofile>Dian Forrester</a>
Dian Forrester
16 (25)
  • 1x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 64SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
Zakary Foulkes
ECON 4.00
2
OVERS
8/1
R/W
Bowler
Mitchell Santner
ECON 2.00
4
OVERS
8/1
R/W
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That's all from Mount Maunganui - A quick turnaround for the two sides, with the second T20I of this five-match series set to take place at Hamilton's Seddon Park on Tuesday, 17th March. The match will begin at 6.15 am GMT, but as always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!
Could not have asked for more - The captain of South Africa, Keshav Maharaj expresses immense pride as his team’s plans and execution prove to be top-notch on the field. He highlights the exciting depth within the South African system, noting that he could not have asked for a better performance from the debutants. Reflecting on the personal milestone, Maharaj cherishes the rare and special opportunity to captain his country, especially given how clinically his side has performed.
We could have adapted better with the bat - New Zealand's skipper, Mitchell Santner says there was probably a little more in the pitch than they initially expected and credits South Africa for bowling well. He adds that it becomes tough after losing wickets in the powerplay and believes his side could perhaps have scraped their way to a slightly better total. Santner says it is one of those games where the team reflects on the small moments. Mentions that the side prides itself on adapting to conditions, but feels that they did not quite manage that on the night. He reckons that 120 or 130 would have made this game exciting. Looking ahead, Santner points out that this series gives teams the luxury of multiple games, though he acknowledges that starting slowly is never ideal. He describes South Africa as a quality side and says the team is ready for a fight in the remaining matches. Shares that he is happy with the amount of turn the surface offered and cheekily says that he won't mind if the surface behaves the same way in Hamilton.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH -  The 19-year-old speedster Nqobani Mokoena wins the award on his debut. The debutant finished with figures of 3/26 in 3.3 overs. Mokoena describes the win and his performance as a pretty good feeling while making his debut, even after a tough start where his first two overs didn't go as planned. He notes that the nippy conditions were firmly in the bowlers' favour and shares that he effectively mixed in his slower balls to dismantle the opposition. He expresses his happiness with the way he bounced back to pick up key wickets.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
South African quicks rip through New Zealand - Earlier, after losing the toss, on a two-paced wicket, South African quicks made the most of the seam movement on offer and piled on the misery for the Kiwis. Having lost five wickets in the powerplay, the home side never recovered. In hindsight, you feel that New Zealand aimed too high, looking at some of the shots that led to their downfall, and perhaps felt this was a better wicket to bat on than it actually turned out to be.
Chase recap - New Zealand were disciplined in the powerplay and picked up a couple of wickets along the way too. The discipline carried into the middle phase, but South Africa were also guilty of playing too many dots and getting themselves into a hole. Mitchell Santner asked all the questions, and every ball felt like an event when he bowled, but Connor Esterhuizen and Dian Forrester were able to come away unscathed from his spell. Once he was done, the singles began to flow freely and South Africa got home.
South Africa draw first blood - Not the most convincing chase you will ever see, but the Proteas get the job done. A win set up by their bowlers, and the batters did not have to do much, though they will look back at the way they approached the chase. New Zealand will take heart from the way they fought with the ball, but given the amount of help on offer for both pacers and spinners, had they assessed conditions better with the bat, it could have been a different story.
Over 16.4 : 93/3
12 Runs
  • 116.1
  • 1 NB 16.2
  • 216.2
  • 216.3
  • 616.4
C. Esterhuizen
45 (48)
D. Forrester
16 (25)
K. Jamieson
3.4-0-28-1
16.4
6
Kyle Jamieson To Connor Esterhuizen
SIX! That's a wrap. South Africa win this game by 7 wickets. Short and on off, Connor Esterhuizen stays deep inside the crease and pulls this over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a huge six to seal the game.
16.3
2
Kyle Jamieson To Connor Esterhuizen
Good length, around off, Connor Esterhuizen punches this through the point gap for a couple. 5 more needed for South Africa.
16.2
2
Kyle Jamieson To Connor Esterhuizen
On a length, around middle and off, Connor Esterhuizen swings at it but fails to get right underneath it. Hits this high and to the left of the fielder at long on. Bevon Jacobs tries to move swiftly to his left and catch this before throwing it back, but he slips and then his knee gets stuck in the turf. Two runs taken.
This does not look good for Bevon Jacobs. He slipped, and then his knee got stuck in the turf. Jacobs is grimacing in pain as he walks off the field.
16.2
nb
Kyle Jamieson To Connor Esterhuizen
NO BALL! Kyle Jamieson goes for a yorker but the ball slips out of his hands and turns into an above-the-waist beamer. Connor Esterhuizen sways away quickly. Free Hit coming up.
16.1
1
Kyle Jamieson To Dian Forrester
Hard length, around off, Dian Forrester guides this through point for one.
Over 16 : 81/3
7 Runs
  • 115.1
  • 015.2
  • 015.3
  • 415.4
  • 1 WD 15.5
  • 115.5
  • 015.6
C. Esterhuizen
35 (44)
D. Forrester
15 (24)
B. Sears
3-0-16-0
15.6
0
Ben Sears To Connor Esterhuizen
Full and way wide outside off, Connor Esterhuizen goes after it with an attempted drive but gets beaten.
15.5
1
Ben Sears To Dian Forrester
Short and on off, Dian Forrester cuts this to deep point for a single.
15.5
wd
Ben Sears To Dian Forrester
WIDE! Bumper, a bit too high. Wided.
15.4
4
Ben Sears To Dian Forrester
FOUR! Driven away in the gap for four runs. Pitched up, around off, Dian Forrester leans onto the pitch of the ball and drives this through the covers region for a boundary. Just 13 needed now for SA to win this.
15.3
0
Ben Sears To Dian Forrester
Back of a length around off, Dian Forrester plays this late and guides this to the right of backward point.
15.2
0
Ben Sears To Dian Forrester
Good length, on middle and off, Dian Forrester punches this to mid off for no run.
15.1
1
Ben Sears To Connor Esterhuizen
Good length, on off, Connor Esterhuizen pushes this to the left of mid-wicket and takes one. The fielder did put in a dive but he couldn't field the ball and that allowed the single to be taken. A clean pick-up could have found Connor in trouble.
Over 15 : 74/3
2 Runs
  • 014.1
  • 114.2
  • 014.3
  • 014.4
  • 114.5
  • 014.6
D. Forrester
10 (20)
C. Esterhuizen
34 (42)
C. McConchie
4-0-24-0
14.6
0
Cole McConchie To Dian Forrester
This is fuller, on off, Dian checks his drive to cover.
14.5
1
Cole McConchie To Connor Esterhuizen
Flat and short, on off, this is punched off the back foot to long on for one.
14.4
0
Cole McConchie To Connor Esterhuizen
More frustration for Esterhuizen. Tossed up, on middle. Connor jumps out of the crease and drills it down the ground but Mitchell Santner makes the stop at mid off by going low to his left.
14.3
0
Cole McConchie To Connor Esterhuizen
On a length, around leg. Connor flicks but can't get it past the man at backward square leg.
14.2
1
Cole McConchie To Dian Forrester
Full and angled in, on middle. Dian drives it to long off for a single.
14.1
0
Cole McConchie To Dian Forrester
Turning away, on a length, Dian Forrester guides it to point.
Over 14 : 72/3
1 Runs
  • 013.1
  • 013.2
  • 013.3
  • 013.4
  • 113.5
  • 013.6
C. Esterhuizen
33 (39)
D. Forrester
9 (17)
M. Santner
4-0-8-1
13.6
0
Mitchell Santner To Connor Esterhuizen
Full and drifting in, on middle. Connor Esterhuizen lunges and defends it out. End of a superb spell from the Kiwi skipper, 4-0-8-1.
13.5
1
Mitchell Santner To Dian Forrester
Uppish but safe! From over the wicket, slightly short, on middle. This spins back in and Dian Forrester checks his shot. He plays it uppishly but away from the man at mid-wicket to his right. They cross.
13.4
0
Mitchell Santner To Dian Forrester
Full and quick, pitching outside the line of the leg stump from around the wicket. Dian Forrester goes for the reverse but is beaten and gets hit on the crouched thigh.
Full Commentary
16 OV
7 Runs
B. Sears to C. Esterhuizen D. Forrester
  • 115.1
  • 015.2
  • 015.3
  • 415.4
  • 1 WD 15.5
  • 115.5
  • 015.6
15 OV
2 Runs
C. McConchie to D. Forrester C. Esterhuizen
  • 014.1
  • 114.2
  • 014.3
  • 014.4
  • 114.5
  • 014.6
14 OV
1 Runs
M. Santner to D. Forrester C. Esterhuizen
  • 013.1
  • 013.2
  • 013.3
  • 013.4
  • 113.5
  • 013.6
13 OV
7 Runs
C. McConchie to D. Forrester C. Esterhuizen
  • 112.1
  • 112.2
  • 112.3
  • 112.4
  • 112.5
  • 212.6
12 OV
1 Runs
M. Santner to D. Forrester C. Esterhuizen
  • 111.1
  • 011.2
  • 011.3
  • 011.4
  • 011.5
  • 011.6
11 OV
6 Runs
C. McConchie to C. Esterhuizen D. Forrester
  • 110.1
  • 010.2
  • 110.3
  • 110.4
  • 110.5
  • 210.6
10 OV
2 Runs
M. Santner to J. Smith D. Forrester
  • W 9.1
  • 29.2
  • 09.3
  • 09.4
  • 09.5
  • 09.6
9 OV
9 Runs
C. McConchie to J. Smith C. Esterhuizen
  • 18.1
  • 48.2
  • 18.3
  • 08.4
  • 28.5
  • 18.6
8 OV
2 Runs
B. Sears to C. Esterhuizen J. Smith
  • 17.1
  • 17.2
  • 07.3
  • 07.4
  • 07.5
  • 07.6
7 OV
4 Runs
M. Santner to J. Smith
  • 06.1
  • 06.2
  • 46.3
  • 06.4
  • 06.5
  • 06.6
6 OV
12 Runs
B. Sears to C. Esterhuizen J. Smith
  • 05.1
  • 05.2
  • 4 B 5.3
  • 65.4
  • 1 LB 5.5
  • 15.6
5 OV
8 Runs
K. Jamieson to C. Esterhuizen R. Hermann J. Smith
  • 04.1
  • 04.2
  • 1 WD 4.3
  • 14.3
  • 64.4
  • W 4.5
  • 04.6
4 OV
7 Runs
Z. Foulkes to C. Esterhuizen R. Hermann
  • 03.1
  • 23.2
  • 43.3
  • 03.4
  • 13.5
  • 03.6
3 OV
6 Runs
K. Jamieson to C. Esterhuizen R. Hermann
  • 1 WD 2.1
  • 12.1
  • 12.2
  • 02.3
  • 02.4
  • 22.5
  • 12.6
2 OV
1 Runs
Z. Foulkes to C. Esterhuizen de Zorzi R. Hermann
  • 01.1
  • 11.2
  • 01.3
  • W 1.4
  • 01.5
  • 01.6
1 OV
6 Runs
K. Jamieson to de Zorzi
  • 00.1
  • 4 LB 0.2
  • 20.3
  • 00.4
  • 00.5
  • 00.6
Match Info
  • Venue Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
  • Weather Clear
  • Toss New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
  • Result South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets
  • Player of the Match Nqobani Mokoena
  • Umpire Chris Brown (NZ), Wayne Knights (NZ) and Kim Cotton (NZ)
  • Referee Dave Gilbert (AUS)
Match Notes
  • Innings Break: New Zealand 91/10 in 14.3 overs
  • Drinks: New Zealand 54/6 in 9.2 overs
  • New Zealand 50/5 in 8.3 overs
  • Mandatory Power play (1-6): New Zealand 36/5
  • N Kelly(NZ), C Esterhuizen(SA), D Forrester(SA), J Hermann(SA) and N Mokoena(SA) makes their T20I debut
  • Referral 1 (13.2 ovs): NZ against D Forrester (LBW) Unsuccessful (NZ: 1, SA: 2)
  • Drinks: South Africa 55/3 in 9.1 overs
  • South Africa 51/2 in 8.2 overs
  • Mandatory Power play (1-6): South Africa 40/2
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