Connor Esterhuizen struck and impressive 57 from 36 balls to lay the platform for South Africa’s modest total of 164-5 after choosing to bat first in the fourth T20 International against New Zealand at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.
The 24-year-old right hander swept, pulled and drove three sixes to go with seven fours during his maiden half century and added 81 for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi who slapped a six over cover during his 21 from 18 balls before driving offspinner Cole McConchie (4-0-26-1) to extra cover.
Dian Forrester pulled a brace of sixes in his 19 from 14 balls before missing a full toss from Zak Foulkes (4-0-35-1) to fall lbw and Esterhuizen’s innings ended with a stunning, diving catch at deep square leg by Katene Clarke following a hook shot against fast bowler Ben Sears.
Like his predecessors Jason Smith was never able to find the necessary acceleration for a dominant total and holed out to long off against seamer Kyle Jamieson (4-1-29-2) having scored 19 from 14 balls with two fours and a six.
The excellent Jamieson began the match with a wicket-maiden having Wiaan Mulder caught at wide slip off the second ball as the allrounder’s experiment as an opener continues to yield no dividends with a second successive duck.
Rubin Hermann hooked a six and drove a pair of fours during his stuttering 28* from 25 deliveries but it was accomplished bowling performance from the hosts with the exception of stand-in captain Jimmy Neesham who leaked 49 runs from his four overs.
The home side is without regular captain, Mitchell Santner, who is travelling to the IPL while South Africa have included a second spinner in Prenelan Subrayen for his first game of the series.
New Zealand lead the five-match series 2:1 and are well placed at the halfway stage to take an unassailable 3:1 lead on a good batting pitch and fast outfield.
NEW ZEALAND: Tim Robinson, Katene D Clarke, Dane Cleaver (wkt), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham (captain), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears.
SOUTH AFRICA: Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen (wkt), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman.