Debutants Connor Esterhuizen and Nqobani Mokoena played leading roles for the Proteas Men’s team in the convincing seven-wicket victory over New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Manganui on Sunday.
Esterhuizen and Mokoena were half of four debutants unleashed by coach Shukri Conrad in this series opener.
Jordan Hermann and Dian Forrester were the other two, although the former did not enjoy the best of luck after picking up a hamstring in the field which prevented him from batting.
Teenager Mokoena set up the victory with excellent figures of 3/26. He bowled with good pace, while also showing good skills at the backend. He was ably supported by his fellow pacers Gerald Coetzee (2/14) along with Ottneil Baartman (2/22). Skipper Keshav Maharaj, who was playing his 50th T20I, chipped in with 2/25 to skittle the Kiwis for just 91.
The run-chase was trickier than expected on a surface that offered both seam movement and significant spin. Tony de Zorzi fell early on for two, while Rubin Hermann also perished for just seven in an attempt to force the pace.
All the while Esterhuizen was assessing the conditions and only taking risk-free options when he looked to accelerate.
Jason Smith also scratched around for 10 before he was finally stumped off the bowling of New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. The Black Ferns skipper could have had plenty more wickets on another day as he befuddled both Smith and newcomer Forrester.
Santner finished with the incredible figures of 4-0-8-1.
Esterhuizen (45 not out, 48 balls, 2×4, 2×6) kept his calm throughout and played some delightful reverse-sweeps at the other end and calmly took the Proteas home along with Forrester (16 not out, 25 balls, 1×4) with 3.2 overs remaining.
1st T20I SCOREBOARD
New Zealand: 91 all out (Neesham 25, Santner 15, Mokoena 3/26, Coetzee 2/14, Baartman 2/22, Maharaj 2/25)
South Africa: 93/3 (Esterhuizen 45*, Forrester 16*, Santner ⅛, Foulkes ⅛)
South Africa won by 7 wickets, lead five-match series 1-0
