Clinical South Africa make it 2-2

Connor Esterhuizen's half-century and a collective bowling effort gave South Africa a series-levelling win in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Sunday (March 22). Esterhuizen's 36-ball 57, along with useful contributions from the rest of the batters, helped South Africa post 164 for 5. In response, New Zealand were bundled out for 145, with Gerald Coetzee bagging three while debutant Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman and Keshav Maharag picked up two wickets apiece.

Tim Robinson and debutant Katene Clarke provided a quick start to the chase with a flurry of boundaries before Wiaan Mulder struck in the third over to dismiss the newcomer for 9. Robinson had luck going his way, with an inside edge evading the 'keeper Esterhuizen while George Linde missed a catch at midwicket. A six for Dane Cleaver, meanwhile, brought up New Zealand's fifty in the fifth over. South Africa finally saw the back of Robinson when Coetzee had him caught at backward point off a top-edge. A boundary and a six for Cleaver in the same over helped New Zealand end the Powerplay at 63/2.

South Africa hit back strongly with quick wickets as it became 96/5 by the time the 12th over was completed. Cleaver was bowled by a full delivery from Subrayen, who also cleaned up Bevon Jacobs with a yorker. James Neesham had a couple of reprieves before getting a top-edge off Baartman.

Cole McConchie and Nick Kelly tried to counter attack but that was cut short as Maharaj accounted for both in the 14th over, leaving New Zealand at 112/7. Zakary Foulkes had a short stay too, becoming Baartman's second scalp after getting a six while Coetzee got his second when he had Josh Clarkson late on a pull. The last wicket pair kept South Africa waiting before Coetzee got Kyle Jamieson with a short ball to wrap up the game in the 19th over.

Earlier, after South Africa opted to bat, Jamieson set the tone with a wicket-maiden in the first over, removing Mulder with one that nipped away to find the edge. Esterhuizen, though, counterpunched effectively to ensure a productive Powerplay for South Africa. After Tony de Zorzi struck two fours off Foulkes in the second over, Esterhuizen took over, hitting four fours and three sixes inside the first six overs to take South Africa to 50.

Esterhuizen raced to a 33-ball fifty and de Zorzi also got going as they took the partnership to 81 before Ben Sears removed the half-centurion in the 10th over thanks to a stunning catch from Clarke. McConchie dismissed de Zorzi soon after, leaving South Africa at 85/3 after 11 overs.

Rubin Hermann guided South Africa in the latter half with a composed 28, while Dian Forrester and Jason Smith added brief bursts of momentum. George Linde's late cameo helped push the total beyond 160, but New Zealand's disciplined death bowling ensured it didn't spiral further. Sears, in particular, stood out with an exceptional final over in which he conceded only two runs, capping a strong comeback from the hosts, although it eventually went in vain.

Brief scores: South Africa 164/5 in 20 overs (Connor Esterhuizen 57, Rubin Hermann 28*; Kyle Jamieson 2-29) beat New Zealand 145 in 18.5 overs (Tim Robinson 32; Gerald Coetzee 3-31, Prenelan Subrayen 2-13) by 19 runs.