Black Caps v South Africa: Jimmy Neesham to captain New Zealand for first time in fourth T20 Veteran allrounder Jimmy Neesham will take charge of the Black Caps for the first time in a T20 match during tonight’s fourth game against South Africa in Wellington. Usual skipper Mitch Santner is stepping aside for the final two games of the series, and Tom Latham was initially set to serve as temporary captain before being replaced due to a thumb injury. Neesham will become the 12th player to lead the Black Caps in a T20 international. The 35-year-old, who has represented New Zealand in 103 T20 matches, will lead the team as Latham undergoes scans in Christchurch to assess the severity of his injury. The injury occurred when Latham was struck by a delivery from South African fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena at Eden Park on Friday night. Despite the impact in the fourth over, Latham continued batting, finishing with an unbeaten 63 off 55 balls to help the Black Caps secure an eight-wicket victory in Auckland. The outcome of Latham’s scans will determine his participation in the fifth and final T20 of the series at Hagley Oval. In the meantime, Tom Blundell has been added to the squad as cover for Latham’s absence. The Black Caps currently lead the five-match series 2-1, and a win in Wellington would secure the series triumph with one game remaining. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:15 pm, with the White Ferns hosting the Proteas in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Black Caps’ upcoming fixtures will test their resilience as they aim to maintain their series advantage. The team’s performance in the fourth T20 will be crucial in determining whether they can clinch the series outright. The injury to Latham has raised questions about the team’s depth and adaptability, particularly in high-pressure situations.#black_caps #tom_latham #nqobani_mokoena #jimmy_neesham #mitch_santner
