Connor Esterhuizen shines as South Africa beat New Zealand by 19 runs to level series South Africa secured a 19-run victory against New Zealand in the fourth T20I of a five-match series, leveling the contest at 2-2. The win came at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, with wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen playing a pivotal role. His half-century, coupled with a disciplined bowling performance from the South African attack, helped the team post 164/5 in 20 overs. New Zealand, in reply, were bowled out for 145 in 18.5 overs, falling short of the target. Esterhuizen anchored the innings with a gritty 57 off 33 balls, forming a crucial partnership of 81 with Tony De Zorzi. The duo steadied South Africa after a shaky start, with opener Mulder dismissed on the second ball. De Zorzi contributed 23 before being out, but Esterhuizen’s resilience kept the team in contention. Rubin Hermann remained not out on 28, while Jason Smith and Dian Forrester added 19 runs each to ensure a competitive total. New Zealand’s chase struggled from the outset, with Tim Robinson scoring 32 and Dane Cleaver making 26. However, the team’s collapse began after Cleaver’s dismissal, as they lost eight wickets for 69 runs. The hosts’ bowlers, led by Gerald Coetzee, who took three wickets, and supported by Ottneil Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen, and Keshav Maharaj, who each claimed two, dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup. Kyle Jamieson accounted for two wickets, while Zakary Foulkes, Ben Sears, and Cole McConchie each picked up one. The decider of the series will be played on March 25 at Hagley Oval, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the T20I encounter.#new_zealand #south_africa #connor_esterhuizen #wellington #sky_stadium
Amelia Kerr creates world record across women's and men's T20Is as New Zealand seal South Africa series New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr set a new world record during the team’s victory over South Africa in the fourth T20I, helping the White Ferns chase 160 runs and clinch the series at SKy Stadium in Wellington. Her 31-run innings, scored from 29 balls, marked her 10th consecutive score of over 30 in T20I cricket, establishing a new benchmark across both men’s and women’s formats. This achievement surpassed previous records held by players like Chamari Athapaththu and Rebecca Blake, who had nine such scores, and now places Kerr at the forefront of the all-time list. Kerr’s performance was pivotal in securing the series win for New Zealand, which now holds a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth T20I against South Africa on March 25. Her innings came after the team’s total of 159/6, with Jess Kerr playing a key role in the bowling attack. Jess Kerr took 3 wickets for 16 runs in her four overs, dismissing key South African batters including captain Laura Wolvaardt, Chloe Tryon, and Tazmin Brits. Annerie Dercksen scored an unbeaten 55 off 32 balls to guide South Africa to a competitive total, but it proved insufficient against New Zealand’s chase. Sophie Devine also made history during the match, scoring 64 runs from 34 balls with six fours and four sixes. This marked her 10th fifty-plus score against South Africa, a record that now stands as the highest by any player in men’s or women’s T20I cricket against a single opponent. Devine previously shared the record with players like Babar Azam, Smriti Mandhana, and Beth Mooney, but her latest performance solidified her place in the history books.#new_zealand #south_africa #amelia_kerr #jess_kerr #sky_stadium
