New Zealand will want to forget the opening T20I quickly. They were bowled out for 91, with Neesham’s 26 the only score past 20, and lost by seven wickets. They fell to 21 for 4 and lost their last four wickets for 11 runs, and managed only two sixes. Devon Conway (1) and Tom Latham (7) are expected to open again, with Tim Robinson, who made 6, at number three. Bevon Jacobs, Nick Kelly, Cole McConchie, Neesham and Mitchell Santner round out the middle order.
The bowling was better. Santner conceded only 8 runs in four overs and took a wicket, with Kyle Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes claiming one each.
South Africa are confident after that comprehensive win. Gerald Coetzee removed Conway and Latham inside 13 balls, Ottneil Baartman took two wickets in an over, Keshav Maharaj took two and Nqobani Mokoena’s three earned him Player of the Match. With the bat, debutant Connor Esterhuizen made an unbeaten 45, Dian Forrester 16 and Jason Smith 10. New Zealand’s batters have the experience to bounce back, which marginally favours the hosts in our preview.
