Black Caps allrounder Cole McConchie is bowled against South Africa. Photo / Photosport
The Black Caps have missed their first chance to claim a T20 series victory over South Africa, after falling to a 19-run defeat in Wellington.
While the White Ferns were able to claim an unassailable 3-1 series lead hours earlier, the Black Caps couldn’t match the achievement, as New Zealand made just 145 in response to the Proteas’ 164-5.
The Kiwi bowling unit had done their job in restricting South Africa, only for a lack of partnerships with the bat to see New Zealand fall short.
Having rested the bulk of their squad from the T20 World Cup, the Black Caps were weakened further by the planned loss of captain Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway and Lockie Ferguson.
Tom Latham had been scheduled to lead the side, but was ruled out after a blow to the thumb sustained in Friday’s win at Eden Park, and handed the reins to Jimmy Neesham to assume the captaincy for the first time in his 13-year career.
That inexperience told, as the best on display for the Black Caps was just 32 from Tim Robinson, as the Proteas spinners put the brakes on the run chase.
Debutant Prenelan Subrayen showed exceptional control to claim 2-13, backed up by captain Keshav Maharaj’s 2-22 from four overs. Gerald Coetzee (3-31) and Ottneil Baartman (2-30) led the way for the seamers.
Either side can claim the series outright on Wednesday, as both travel south to Christchurch for the decider, while the women play out a dead rubber.
South Africa’s decision to bat first looked to have backfired from as early as the second ball, when Kyle Jamieson (2-29) had Wiaan Mulder caught at slip by Robinson.
That was New Zealand’s only success inside the power play, though, as South Africa’s second-wicket pair added a 50-stand in just 29 balls. Connor Esterhuizen reached his own milestone, 50 in 33 balls, but his exit saw the Proteas’ innings limp to a close.
South Africa’s wicketkeeper’s attempted pull over the square leg boundary wasn’t timed, and was met by debutant Katene Clarke running in from the fence, diving, and taking the ball centimetres from the turf to break the partnership at 81-2.
From there, South Africa’s next best score was just 28 not out from 25 balls to Rubin Hermann – himself dropped on nine by Bevon Jacobs off Jamieson. And as Ben Sears (1-22) gave away just a single and a leg bye from the final over, South Africa’s 20 overs set the Black Caps 165 to take the series.
Like South Africa before them, though, the Black Caps struggled to string partnerships together.
The openers added 28 in 15 balls together before Clarke (9) hit Mulder’s third ball straight to deep square leg. Robinson rode his luck, and was dropped twice on his way to 30, before he gave Coetzee a wicket, as New Zealand finished the power play at 63-2.
Subrayen entered the fray to strike either side of drinks, bowling both Dane Cleaver for 26, and Jacobs for three.
Neesham was dropped twice on two balls, first by Coetzee at third man, and then at backward point by Subrayen. A third chance in the over saw Coetzee redeem himself, and send the Black Caps captain on his way.
At 96-5, the Black Caps needed a partnership as Cole McConchie joined Nick Kelly at the crease, but were in control of the run rate - helped when the pair hit 15 off one Mulder over. It wouldn’t last, as Kelly (19) holed out to deep midwicket off Maharaj, who then bowled McConchie (10) for good measure.
At No 9, Zak Foulkes joined Josh Clarkson as the last recognised pair, and cleared long-off with his second ball, only to perish with a top-edge off Otneil Baartman to Estherhuizen.
And when Clarkson became the ninth man to fall, bounced out by Coetzee for 10, South Africa’s job was all but done, as the Black Caps head south with work to do.
South Africa 164-5 (Esterhuizen 57; Jamieson 2-29)
New Zealand 145 (Robinson 32; Coetzee 3-31)
South Africa win by 19 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.