Esterhuizen’s brilliance powers SA to glory in series clincher against NZ

A brilliant innings from Connor Esterhuizen helped South Africa post a formidable 187-4 which was more than enough for a comfortable 33-run victory in the fifth and deciding T20 International against New Zealand at the Haglee Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Esterhuizen blasted six sixes and five fours in his dynamic 75 from just 33 balls while every other batsman struggled for timing on a pitch providing uneven bounce while Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder and Ottneil Baartman claimed two wickets apiece to restrict the Black Caps to 154-8.

South Africa’s innings started slowly after being asked to bat first with openers Tony de Zorzi (12 from 14 balls) and Mulder (31 from 29) bedevilled by dot balls although Mulder did hit offspinner Cole McConchie for successive sixes over midwicket in the ninth over which cost 18 runs.

Rubin Hermann pulled seamer Ben Sears for a huge six in his 39 from 31 balls before falling to a stunning, one-handed catch in the deep by Nick Kelly off the same bowler after Mulder had miscued a drive against medium pacer Josh Clakson to mid off.

South Africa appeared to be heading towards a total of around 150 until Esterhuizen changed gears once again with a brace of slog-swept sixes against McConchie (4-0-48-0) in the 17th over which cost 15 runs with the final five overs costing 62.

Esterhuizen and Dian Forrester (21* off 13) both smashed Kyle Jamieson (4-0-43-0) for legside sixes in the penultimate over which yielded a welcome 19 runs but Esterhuizen saved the shot of the innings for the final over when he thumped Sears for an extraordinary six over extra cover off the back foot.

His brilliant innings ended one delivery later when he sliced a full toss to long off but he had done more than enough to make South Africa favourites to clinch the series 3-2, which the bowlers duly did.

The hosts struggled to keep up with the required run-rate with opener Tim Robinson collecting just a single boundary in his 25 from 20 balls before a powerful throw from the deep by Jason Smith saw him run out by a metre attempting a desperate second run.

Dane Cleaver (22 from 17) sliced Baartman (4-0-33-2) to Smith at backward point while left hander Kelly crawled to 14 off 18 balls before edging Maharaj onto his stumps.

Bevon Jacobs, like Esterhuizen, was the sole member of the top order able to locate the middle of his bat on a regular basis and three sixes off Keshav Maharaj (3-0-35-1) helped him to 36 from just 19 balls before chipping Baartman to Forrester at wide long on.

The game was all-but over with 47 required from the final two overs but Coetzee (4-0-21-2) made certain the victory margin was emphatic.

South won the first game by seven-wickets, lost the second and third games comfortably by 68-runs and eight-wickets before bouncing back with a 19-run victory in the fourth match in Wellington on Sunday.

NEW ZEALAND: Tim Robinson, Katene 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