Wellington: Connor Esterhuizen struck a blistering 75 off 33 balls to lead South Africa to a 33-run win over New Zealand on Wednesday, sealing a 3-2 comeback victory in their five-match Twenty20 series.
South Africa posted 187-4 in Christchurch after recovering from a slow start, before restricting New Zealand to 154-8 with disciplined bowling led by Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder and Ottniel Baartman, who claimed two wickets each.
Esterhuizen, making his mark in his debut international series, was named player of the series after following up a half-century in the previous match with another decisive innings.
“Means everything and pinch-me moment to play for your country. Special feeling and humbling,” he said.
New Zealand opted to bowl but failed to capitalise on early chances, dropping catches as South Africa slipped to 76-2 in the 11th over.
Esterhuizen then took control, reaching his fifty in 24 balls and sharing a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dian Forrester to lift the visitors to a competitive total.
In reply, New Zealand lost opener Katene Clarke early and were reduced to 69-4 in the 11th over after quick wickets for Mulder.
Dane Cleaver (22), Tim Robinson (25) and Nick Kelly (14) all fell cheaply as the hosts struggled to build partnerships.
Stand-in captain James Neesham, leading in the absence of Mitchell Santner and injured Tom Latham, battled on but could not prevent the collapse despite a late cameo from Bevon Jacobs, who scored 36 off 19 balls.
“Unfortunately a couple of sub-par performances at the end of the series… South Africa have a quality bowling attack and (our) batters got a taste of what the next level is like,” Neesham said.
New Zealand, runners-up at this month’s T20 World Cup, will next travel to Bangladesh for a white-ball tour in April.
