New Zealand vs South Africa Prediction & Match Preview – 4th T20I, Wellington
Match summary
New Zealand lead South Africa in the T20I series ahead of the 4th game in Wellington on 22 March. Our preview covers form, pitch and a pick.
Match details
| Match | New Zealand vs South Africa, 4th T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | South Africa tour of New Zealand 2026 |
| Date | 22 Mar 2026 |
| Start time | 6:15 am GMT / 7:15 pm local |
| Venue | Sky Stadium, Wellington |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | New Zealand |
| Toss pick | South Africa |
Matches in this series
Match preview
New Zealand host South Africa in the fourth T20I of the tour at Sky Stadium, Wellington, on Sunday, 22 March, with a 7:15 pm local start. South Africa have lost consecutive games, and this is their last chance to keep the series alive.
New Zealand won the second match by eight wickets with 22 balls to spare, but they will be without captain Mitchell Santner for the final two games. Devon Conway and Tom Latham are set to open; the pair added 96 in the last game, where Latham made 63 off 55 balls and Conway 39 after 60 in the second match. Tim Robinson bats at three, Nick Kelly follows with James Neesham and Cole McConchie, and Lockie Ferguson, who took a wicket while conceding nine runs from four overs, leads the attack alongside Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson.
South Africa have struggled, with Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi expected to open and Connor Esterhuizen at three. George Linde, who hit 33 off 12 in the second game, is the batter to watch, and Keshav Maharaj leads a bowling group that includes Lutho Sipamla, Nqobani Mokoena and Gerald Coetzee. Ottneil Baartman, the leading wicket-taker in the recent SA20, missed the last game.
Sky Stadium usually offers something for everyone. Wellington’s wind can help fast bowlers with swing and seam early on, then the surface settles and batting becomes easier with consistent bounce. Spinners can contribute in the middle overs, but pace has the bigger impact. Around 170 is generally a competitive T20 score, and chasing can become tricky if the pitch slows.
Conditions look good for cricket at the 7:15 pm local start, with mild temperatures of 17–19 °C and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Rain is very unlikely and a moderate breeze may help the quicks early, while dew should be minimal.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | – |
| Second innings | 155–175 | – |
New Zealand
New Zealand have won the games we have details for and carry the stronger form, so our preview picks them to win, with South Africa expected to win the toss.
Toss pick: South Africa
FAQ
Where is the 4th T20I between New Zealand and South Africa?
It is at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday, 22 March 2026, starting at 7:15 pm local time.
Who will captain New Zealand?
Mitchell Santner is to miss the final two matches of the series, so New Zealand will be without their captain.
Who does our preview pick?
Our preview picks New Zealand, who beat South Africa by eight wickets in the second game, and expects South Africa to win the toss.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Line-ups not available yet.
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of New Zealand and South Africa that we covered.