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New Zealand
South Africa
New Zealand will face South Africa in the 5th T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The series stands level at 2-2, making this a decider. South Africa started strong with a win in the first game while chasing a target under 100.
New Zealand will respond with back-to-back wins, first by defending their total and then by chasing down the target in the third match. South Africa levelled the series again with a successful chase of a 160-plus total in the fourth T20I.
New Zealand will aim to break their record, as they have never beaten South Africa in a bilateral T20I series of 2 or more matches. Tom Latham is unavailable due to injury, and James Neesham will continue to lead the side. Katene Clarke made his debut in the last match, with several senior players rested. SA strengthened their spin attack with Prenelan Subrayen joining Keshav Maharaj and George Linde.
Esterhuizen has been the most consistent batter in the series with scores of 57 and 45, while no other South African batter has even come close to a fifty.
The betting tip is...
Connor Esterhuizen - Over 23.5 runs
64 %
36 %
New ZealandSouth AfricaNew Zealand will continue with a depleted squad for this decider. Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson and regular captain Mitchell Santner are rested. Tom Latham is unavailable after his thumb injury in the third T20I. Jimmy Neesham will lead the side again, with Dane Cleaver taking over wicketkeeping duties. Zak Foulkes replaced Ferguson in the XI.
Tim Robinson and Katene Clarke will open the innings, with Clarke scoring 9 runs on debut. Robinson and Cleaver will anchor the batting after Conwayβs absence. Bevon Jacobs and Neesham will provide batting support.
New Zealand will stick with a pace-heavy attack, using only one specialist spinner. Ben Sears will lead the bowling with 6 wickets in 4 matches. Neesham has 8 wickets in his last 6 games. Kyle Jamieson has contributed 5 wickets in the series.
Jamieson, Neesham and Sears are the key bowlers.
Predicted Lineup: ββTim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver (wk), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Jimmy Neesham (c), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears
South Africa introduced Prenelan Subrayen as a new cap and strengthened their spin attack. The off-spin allrounder impressed on debut with figures of 2/13 in 3 overs. He joined Keshav Maharaj and George Linde to form a three-spinner combination. Nqobani Mokoena and Lutho Sipamla rested in the fourth T20I, while Ottneil Baartman returned.
SA continued with Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder as their opening pair. Mulder has gotten out for ducks in the last 2 matches. Connor Esterhuizen led the batting with 57 off 36 in the previous game and remains SAβs highest scorer of the series. Jason Smith and George Linde added late runs in the lower order.
Maharaj picked up 2/22 in the last match and has 6 wickets in the series. Gerald Coetzee has taken 5 wickets, while Baartman has 6 wickets in 3 games.
Maharaj, Coetzee and Baartman are the key bowlers.
Predicted Lineup: Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (c), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman
This match will likely be decided by batting discipline, as both teams have relied more on their bowling units in the series. New Zealand will continue with an inexperienced batting lineup and rely on a few players in the middle order. Their top order looked unstable without Conway and Latham in the last match.
South Africa has a slight edge in batting. Connor Esterhuizen has already shown consistency with scores of 57 and 45 in the series.
He has been the only batter from either side to handle conditions well and build innings. With De Zorzi and Mulder struggling, more responsibility will fall on him again. South Africa has the momentum, and Esterhuizen will be expected to play another key innings in this decider.
