New Zealand vs South Africa, 4th T20I Match Summary

A series decider coming up - After four matches, it is all level at 2-2 between New Zealand and South Africa, making the final and fifth T20I a winner-takes-all game. The hosts will have plenty to think about after a disappointing night with the bat, with the inexperience in the middle order clearly showing. It was a day of two halves for New Zealand in Wellington. The White Ferns set the tone in the afternoon, beating South Africa Women by a comfortable six wickets to claim the series with a game to spare. But the men could not match that clinical edge in the evening and now head into the decider with some serious questions to answer about their batting approach. The final T20I takes place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday, March 25th, with the first ball scheduled at 6.15 am GMT. But do make sure to join us in advance for all the buildup and analysis. Until then, we take your leave. Cheers!

The victorious captain of South Africa - Keshav Maharaj says it's a perfect response after two difficult games. Reckons that there are no pre-conceived ideas before playing, just see the ball and play to the merit. He says the energy in the camp has been really good coming into the match, with a lively warm-up giving him a sense of the hunger and desire within the group. To see that transferred onto the field, he adds, was phenomenal. Maharaj also adds that the fire and passion of playing for your country is always there but says sometimes you just need a little reminder. He notes that it is a young team finding its feet in international cricket and that these things take time, but the response after three games was superb. On the specifics of the chase, Maharaj praises his debutant bowler, Prenelan Subrayen, for picking up two crucial wickets at the right time. He also addresses the two dropped catches by Coetzee, saying there was no sense of panic on the field, which was important to him as captain. He highlights that the next chance was taken cleanly by Gerald and he himself then chipped in with two wickets. Maharaj wraps up by saying the mood in the field was buzzing throughout, adding that, unlike in previous games, the side had not been too rigid with their plans and had simply adapted to what was in front of them, which was pleasing to see.

The captain of New Zealand - James Neesham reflects on the loss. He admits it is a disappointing result on a surface he felt was good without being outstanding. He says 165 was probably slightly below par and underlines that New Zealand had a chance going into the back half of the game but fell short due to a few poor options and poor execution. On the pitch, Neesham details that there was a little bit in the surface in the first innings too, and felt the balance in the powerplay had put South Africa in a position where they were backed into a corner, forced into bowling variations. He says the second innings showed that sticking to a hard length and letting the ball do the work was the right approach, with a little bit of sideways movement on offer, but admits that New Zealand could not capitalise on that. On the captaincy, Neesham adds that it was an enjoyable experience. He notes that, having been part of the leadership group and involved in conversations around fields and bowling changes, the transition to being the one making the final call was not a huge shift for him. On the state of New Zealand cricket, Neesham is quite upbeat, saying the side is in very strong shape. Mentions that the series has been a good showcase of the depth in both squads, with players missing on either side creating opportunities to blood young talent. He points to Katene Clarke, who had a barnstorming Super Smash season, as an example of a player getting his chance at the next level, adding that building experience in these players now would pay dividends in three or four years. On the decider, Neesham admits that there needs to be some honest conversations about where things went wrong. He feels New Zealand had bowled extremely well in the previous two games but had perhaps got a little carried away with variations in this one. He notes that Hagley Oval is a bigger ground with more surface area, which would bring different options into play, and with a couple of days and a rare training session before the final match, he is hopeful the side could come together and close out the series.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Connor Esterhuizen wins the award for a brilliant knock of 57 from 36 balls. Esterhuizen says he kept it simple as he didn't have much time to think today. Shares that he tried to cover his off stump and play straight lines, and partnership is key. On his wicket-keeping role, Connor says that in New Zealand, the ball swings around, and it's difficult to grab, but also says that he has overall enjoyed wicket-keeping so far.

... Time for the Presentation Ceremony ...

Esterhuizen shines, Kiwis restrict - South Africa were motoring at 50 for 1 in the Powerplay, with Esterhuizen doing the heavy lifting en route to a maiden T20I half century. He and de Zorzi put on 81 together, though de Zorzi was very much the silent partner in that deal. Once Esterhuizen was gone, so was South Africa's momentum. Hermann and Forrester tried to revive things but the Kiwi bowlers kept pulling the rug out at crucial moments, never letting the innings breathe. New Zealand were sharp with the ball, especially at the death. They went full deceptive mode with pace offs and cutters, using the drop-in surface brilliantly to keep the batters tied down. A few dropped chances aside, they got the job done and kept South Africa to under 170. Jamieson led the way with 2/29, including a maiden, and Sears was ice cold in the final over, giving away just two runs to wrap up a disciplined effort.

Spinners turn the screws on - Cleaver gave the chase a shot in the arm with a brisk cameo, but his dismissal in the ninth over was the crack South Africa needed. Subrayen exploited it beautifully, snapping up wickets in back-to-back overs to drag the game back sharply. Then came the moment that really swung it. Neesham had been handed two lifelines in the same Baartman over and still could not survive. Losing their most experienced batter was a gut punch for New Zealand. 76/2 had become 120/8 and suddenly the chase looked a very different proposition as the spin duo barged through the inexperienced Kiwi middle order. And from there, the Proteas just didn't let the hosts breathe and bowled them out with Coetzee picking up a three-for, while Baartman, Maharaj and Subrayen finished with two apiece.

The Kiwis fly, then stumble - With dew starting to settle, New Zealand came out swinging. Tim Robinson gave the chase a bright start, but Clarke's evening with the bat was a brief one on debut. The hosts were always going to need their top order to build something sensible given the inexperience in the middle order, and at nearly 10 an over inside the Powerplay with 63/2 on the board, the runs were there. But when Robinson fell for 32, South Africa finally had something to cheer about and came clawing back into the contest.

Proteas level it up in Wellington - A job very well done by the tourists with the ball. They may have had their doubts at the halfway stage, perhaps feeling the total was a touch below par with dew factor in mind, but they executed their plans to near perfection. Maharaj was shrewd with his bowling changes throughout and it all came together beautifully in the end.

OUT! TAKEN! It's all over. Gerald Coetzee bangs into the surface, on middle. Jamieson pulls, but even with his height, fails to connect it cleanly. He gets a top edge to square leg, where Ottneil Baartman runs in and slides to hold onto it. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 19 RUNS.

Short in length, around off, climbs a bit towards the batter. Sears pulls off the higher part of the blade to square leg for one.

Serves it very full, outside off. Ben Sears shuffles across to scoop it over but misses.

Three more! Jamieson uses the height again, he sees the shorter delivery around off and lifts it over mid off. Keshav Maharaj runs back, He slides near the ropes, slips in the process but keeps his composure, releasing the ball just in time before touching the boundary cushions. Brilliant presence of mind from Maharaj. Three runs taken. The replay shows Maharaj managed to keep his legs away from the cushion while holding the ball in his hand.

Just over the fielder. Back of a length delivery, outside off. Jamieson makes room and punches on the up over cover. Well over the fielder for a brace.

Right. Last 2 overs coming up. New Zealand need 26 runs from those. Gerald Coetzee to bowl the penultimate over. 3-0-25-2 are his bowling figures so far.

Slightly short, around off. Jamieson pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pushes it full and attacking the stumps. Jamieson eases it with soft hands in front of long on and calls for two. The fielder runs in, slides and throws at the bowler's end but misses. Two runs are taken.

Hard-length delivery, outside off. Sears punches it through covers for a single.

Short in length, outside off, angling in. Ben Sears swings his blade across and misses.

A huge appeal for LBW, probably going down. Keshav Maharaj takes the review. UltraEdge shows no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows it clips the bails of the leg pole. Umpire's call it is. A good length delivery, a scrambled seam and nipping on leg. Ben Sears looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Back of a length, outside off. Kyle Jamieson punches it through covers for a single.

And again. Gerald Coetzee bowls into the surface, around off. Ben Sears hops and defends around the corner.

Short of a length, around off. Ben Sears hops and taps under his eyes.

Serves it full and outside off. Ben Sears pushes it to mid off.

Ben Sears is the last man in for the hosts. New Zealand need 31 runs from 21 balls.

OUT! TAKEN! Gerald Coetzee strikes. A proper bouncer, outside off, gets a bit of extra bounce off the surface. Josh Clarkson tries to pull it away but outside edges it to the keeper. Connor Esterhuizen runs to his right and holds onto it. Gerald Coetzee slams his head with both hands in celebration. New Zealand are 134/9 down now.

Keeps it full and sliding onto the pads. Josh Clarkson whips it to deep square leg for two more. No boundaries but these two are just doing enough to keep South Africa in the game.

Touch fuller and angling in on leg. Josh Clarkson clips it to deep mid-wicket. Jamieson hesitates for the second run but Josh pushes for it. Two taken.

35 needed from 24 balls and here's Gerald Coetzee into the attack again. 2-0-21-1 are his bowling figures.

That is streaky. Maharaj floats one up, slower and wider outside off. Clarkson reaches out to drive but gets a thick under-edge. The ball squirts through, nutmegs Esterhuizen and scurries away to deep fine leg. Baartman has to give long chase in the deep, but the batters read it well and pinch three from an awkward shot.