Proteas head ‘back to the drawing board’ after Black Caps level up the T20I series in Hamilton

Keshav Maharaj shouldered the blame for the Proteas 68-run defeat in the second T20I that saw the Black Caps level the series at 1-1 heading to Auckland on Friday.

It was a dutiful obligation from the Proteas stand-in captain after winning the toss and electing to bowl.

“Honestly, I thought the dew was going to play a large factor in terms of changing the wicket, but look, there was dew in the outfield, but the wicket got a little bit worse, so I’ll take that on my chin,” Maharaj said after the 68-run defeat at Seddon Park.

The skipper had more to be rueful about though. It was his tactical decision to bowl himself in the last over of New Zealand’s innings, even though allrounder Wiaan Mulder, who was the Proteas’ most successful bowler on the night with figures of 2/14, still had two overs remaining of his allocation.

The Proteas were still in control of proceedings heading into the final over with the Black Caps on 151/6. 

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

The second T20I comes to a close in Hamilton as New Zealand secure victory by 68 runs. 🏏

The five-match series is level at 1-1 as we head into the third clash on Friday. 🇿🇦

📸: @PhotosportNZ #Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/MxTSa3uSWK

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 17, 2026

But that’s when the game was turned on its head when Cole McConchie smashed Maharaj’s first ball for six over long-on. McConchie took a single off the next delivery, which brought Josh Clarkson on strike, who hauled out the long handle to launch Maharaj for two enormous sixes and a boundary off the final ball.

Twenty-four runs came off Maharaj’s final over and the Black Caps were propelled to 175/6.

The momentum had swung entirely in favour of the home side, and the Proteas were not able to regain it with the Kiwi seam bowlers utilising the tacky surface to their advantage.

A makeshift opening pair of Mulder, who was deputising for the injured Jordan Hermann, and Connor Esterhuizen never managed to get out of the starting blocks. 

The Proteas were also unable to string any partnerships together with wickets falling in clusters both at the top and in the middle. 

“I think the way New Zealand ball gave us nothing up front and really set us up for the last three, which forced us to make a play on a very tricky wicket,” Maharaj said.

It was all doom and gloom for the skipper, however, as he felt the inexperienced seam bowling unit had delivered on the night again, while all-rounder George Linde’s late cameo (33 off 12 balls) provided some positives heading to Eden Park for the third match of the series.

“I think as a seam bowling unit, the guys have done really well in the last two games, quite precisely and nicely when they needed to, and then, you know, the little bit of self-belief from George at the back end, hitting some spectacular shots,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of positives to come out from the game, but back to the drawing board come Saturday again.”

Scoreboard

New Zealand: 176/7 (Conway 60, Clarkson 26*, Mulder 2/14)

South Africa: 109 all out (Linde 33, Sears 3/14, Ferguson 3/16, Santner 2/19)

New Zealand won by 68 runs, level the series 1-1