Esterhuizen, bowlers help South Africa level T20I series

Connor Esterhuizen's half-century and a collective bowling effort gave South Africa a series-levelling win in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Sunday (March 22). Esterhuizen's 36-ball 57, along with useful contributions from the rest of the batters, helped South Africa post 164 for 5. In response, New Zealand were bundled out for 145, with Gerald Coetzee bagging three while debutant Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman and Keshav Maharaj picked up two wickets apiece. Before Wiaan Mulder struck in the third over to dismiss the newcomer for 9, Tim Robinson and debutant Katene Clarke made a flurry of boundaries to get the chase going quickly. Robinson's luck was on his side, as George Linde missed a catch at midwicket and an inside edge got past Esterhuizen. In contrast, in the fifth over, New Zealand scored fifty thanks to a six by Dane Cleaver. When Coetzee caught Robinson at a backward point off a top-edge, South Africa finally saw Robinson's back. New Zealand won the Powerplay at 63/2 thanks to Cleaver's boundary and six in the same over. By the end of the 12th over, South Africa had made it 96/5 with a strong response of quick wickets. Subrayen bowled Cleaver with a full delivery, and he also yorked out Bevon Jacobs. Before getting a top edge from Baartman, James Neesham, who was taking over as captain in place of the injured Tom Latham, got a couple of reprieves. Nick Kelly and Cole McConchie attempted to counterattack, but Maharaj dismissed them both in the 14th over to leave New Zealand at 112/7. With a six, Zakary Foulkes became Baartman's second loss, and Coetzee got his second when he stopped Josh Clarkson late on a pull. Coetzee got Kyle Jamieson with a short ball to end the game in the 19th over after South Africa were kept waiting by the last wicket pair. Earlier, after South Africa opted to bat, Jamieson set the tone with a wicket-maiden in the first over, removing Mulder with one that nipped away to find the edge. Esterhuizen, though, counterpunched effectively to ensure a productive Powerplay for South Africa. Esterhuizen took over after Tony de Zorzi hit two fours off Foulkes in the second over and scored four fours and three sixes in the first six overs to get South Africa to 50. Esterhuizen hit a quick fifty off 33 balls, and de Zorzi also got going, making the partnership reach 81 before Ben Sears took the half-century off with a stunning catch from Clarke in the 10th over. Shortly thereafter, McConchie struck out de Zorzi, putting South Africa on 85/3 after 11 overs. With a composed total of 28, Rubin Hermann led South Africa in the second half, while Dian Forrester and Jason Smith provided brief spurts of momentum. The final cameo by George Linde helped the score reach 160, but New Zealand's disciplined death bowling kept it from going higher. Sears, in particular, stood out with a fantastic final over in which he only gave up two runs. This marked the end of a strong comeback by the hosts, but it was ultimately in vain.