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- NZ vs SA, 5th T20I highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2
NZ vs SA, 5th T20I highlights: South Africa defeat New Zealand by 33 runs, win series 3-2
The five-match T20 series between New Zealand and South Africa is tied at 2-2. Both teams have won two games each, making today’s final match the decider.
James Neesham: We will bowl first. Not too concerned. It looks like a pretty even contest. There’s a bit of grass on the pitch, which should help the ball move around early, so that’s a positive. It’s always great to be back at Hagley Oval. There’s definitely more experience in the group playing here now. We’ve spent a fair bit of time at this venue, and it’s always a fantastic place for cricket. The crowd turns up in numbers and creates a brilliant atmosphere. With the series on the line tonight, it’s an important game, and hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
Keshav Maharaj: We were actually looking to bat first, taking a bit of a cue from the women’s game played earlier. It looked like the better option, especially if the pitch holds up the way it did, so yeah, batting first was probably the plan. Yeah, it’s definitely useful. You do have to factor in a bit of weather overnight, but generally the conditions don’t change too much. It gives you a good reference point, especially from a bowling perspective around the right lines and lengths to hit. And from a batting point of view, it helps you identify scoring areas, whether that’s square of the wicket, through the off-side or straight down the ground.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver(w), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham(c), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears
South Africa (Playing XI): Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman
Keshav Maharaj to Bevon Jacobs, SIX! AND AGAIN! Floats it very full and in the slot. Jacobs picks it up off his pads and whips it behind square leg for a biggie.
Keshav Maharaj to Bevon Jacobs, SIX! HIT AWAY! Pushes it full and well outside off. Jacobs uses the width to free his arms, he launches it over cover. Just over the fielder there for a six. 100 is up for New Zealand.
Keshav Maharaj changes ends.
- Bevon Jacobs 19 (13)
- James Neesham 8 (12)
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Into the surface, tad short and around off. Jacobs strokes it to cover for one. An ecnomical spell from Prenelan Subrayen (4-0-22-0) comes to an end.
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, Flatter delivery, outside off. James Neesham crunches it to deep cover for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Too full and around off. Jacobs punches it down to long off for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Prenelan Subrayen targets the legs of Jacobs as he serves it on leg. Jacobs misses his swing and it rolls off the pads to short third man.
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, Flatter delivery, around off. James Neesham steers it behind point for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, A bit short and around off. James Neesham gets low and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple. The fielder runs to his right and dives to stop it.
- Bevon Jacobs 17 (10)
- James Neesham 4 (9)
Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, FOUR! Glorious shot! Pitched up, outside off. The tall Jacobs picks up nicely as he lifts it over extra-cover for a one-bounce four.
Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, Nagging length delivery, jagging back in on middle. Jacobs clips it between square leg and mid-wicket for a couple.
Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Bangs it short and on leg. James Neesham shuffles across and pulls it past mid-wicket for a single.
Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Back of a length, around off. Neesham guides it away to point.
Ottneil Baartman to James Neesham, Pushes it full and onto the stumps. James Neesham solidly defends.
Ottneil Baartman to Bevon Jacobs, Bye! Lovely delivery. A good length delivery, outside off and nipping back in sharply. Jacobs tries to go downtown but misses and the ball makes a lte movement, past the off pole and to the left of the keeper for a bye.
- James Neesham 3 (6)
- Bevon Jacobs 11 (7)
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, A hint of turn, on a length, on off. Neesham steers it to backward point.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, On a nagging length, on middle. Bevon backs away and pushes it to long off for one.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Short and flat, on middle. Bevon pats it back to the bowler.
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, Just short! A bit short, on off, Neesham pumps it down the ground but fails to get the desired elevation. Hits it flat to long on, where Wiaan Mulder runs in off the ropes and dives forward but the ball does not carry. He does well to gather the ball on the half-volley. Just a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Short and turning into the pads. Jacobs looks to tickle it fine. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and it dribbles towards short fine leg. Ottneil Baartman dives to his right there and gets a hand on it. The ball slows down before the ropes and Baartman hauls it in. Jacobs collects three.
Prenelan Subrayen to James Neesham, Darted in, short and on middle. Neesham drops it towards square leg for a single.
- Bevon Jacobs 7 (4)
- James Neesham 1 (3)
Keshav Maharaj to Bevon Jacobs, SIX! Straight as an arrow! Flighted delivery from around the wicket, full and on middle. Jacobs takes a step towards the ball and launches it towards the sight screen with a clean swing of the arms.
Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, Full and on the pads. This is eased wide of mid-wicket for a run.
Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, On the off stump, full in length. Neesham stabs it down.
Keshav Maharaj to James Neesham, Floated up, on leg, Neesham defends it out.
James Neesham walks out next in the middle for the Kiwis.
Keshav Maharaj to Nick Kelly, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Nick Kelly could never really get going. Maharaj pushes it through, on the shorter side, on middle and leg. Kelly hops back for the pull again but the ball skids through to catch the inside edge and it goes on to hit the leg pole. New Zealand are 69/4, needing 119 runs in 58 balls.
Keshav Maharaj to Nick Kelly, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Nick Kelly goes on the back foot in a flash and hammers the pull wide of deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep is not far away but the ball skips across the turf and he is beaten to his left.
DRINKS! South Africa have a tight grip on this contest so far, the top order back in the dugout and Nick Kelly struggling to find a footing. Bevon Jacobs is someone who can turn this game upside down in a matter of 2-3 overs and the Proteas will be aiming to get rid of him quickly to get an even tighter hold on proceedings.
- Nick Kelly 10 (16)
- Bevon Jacobs 1 (3)
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, This keeps coming in with the angle, on a length. Kelly taps it to long on for one.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Quicker one, full and wide outside off, Nick Kelly tries to muscle it through the covers but gets beaten.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Floated around off, Nick Kelly backs away and punches this to short covers for a dot.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Short and around the hips. Jacobs turns it behind square leg for a run.
Prenelan Subrayen to Bevon Jacobs, Sliding across the right-hander from around the wicket. A tentative prod by Jacobs and he is beaten on the outside edge.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Bowls it flat and short, on middle. Kelly punches it to deep cover for one.
- Bevon Jacobs 0 (1)
- Nick Kelly 8 (12)
Keshav Maharaj to Bevon Jacobs, Sliding on with the arm from around the wicket, full and on middle. Jacobs drives it back to Maharaj. New Zealand need 126 runs in 66 balls.
Keshav Maharaj to Tim Robinson, OUT! RUN OUT! South Africa have a breakthrough. Keshav Maharaj tosses it up, touch fuller, outside off and turning away. Robinson tries to lift it over cover but slices it over Tony de Zorzi there. The batter calls for two, but Jason Smith from deep runs in, picks up and throws it at the batter's end. Robinson dives but he looks short to the naked eye. The replay loads and shows Robinson was well out of his crease.
Keshav Maharaj to Nick Kelly, Looped up a bit, fuller and on middle. Nick Kelly eases it down to long on for a single.
Keshav Maharaj to Nick Kelly, Attacks the stumps with a fuller delivery. Nick Kelly punches it to cover.
Keshav Maharaj to Tim Robinson, Keeps it full and around off. Robinson hits it down to long off for a single.
Keshav Maharaj to Nick Kelly, Tossed up, fuller and around off. Nick Kelly crunches it through covers for a single.
- Tim Robinson 23 (18)
- Nick Kelly 6 (9)
Prenelan Subrayen to Tim Robinson, A bit too full and on off. Robinson sweeps it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Call is for two, they settle with a run. Prenelan follows Kelly on the leg side with a shorter delivery. Kelly mistimes his pull shot to mid-wicket for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Tim Robinson, Angles it full and on middle. Robinson nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Tim Robinson, Prenelan Subrayen attacks the stumps with a fuller delivery. Robinson makes room to go inside-out but miscues his shot, back to the bowler.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Serves it full and around off. Nick Kelly knocks it down to long off for a single.
Prenelan Subrayen to Nick Kelly, Prenelan Subrayen serves it short, following the batter on the leg side. Nick Kelly steps back and hammers it through covers for a brace.
- Nick Kelly 2 (6)
- Tim Robinson 20 (15)
George Linde to Nick Kelly, A bit too full and on off, Nick Kelly nudges it to mid-wicket and calls for two but as he turns back near the non-striker's end, he slips. They settle with a run.
George Linde to Nick Kelly, Flat and on middle, holds its line. Nick Kelly makes room and cuts it hard but straight to cover.
George Linde to Tim Robinson, Drops it full and around off, skids a bit. Robinson works off the outer half of the blade to cover for one. 50 is up for New Zealand.
Match Statistics
Venue
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
