Cricket
Proteas men dominate in first T20I against New Zealand, but Proteas women fall short─── ILSE SMALBERGER 12:11 Sun, 15 Mar 2026
The South African men’s cricket team easily won the first of five T20 internationals against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui by seven wickets.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, but did not reckon with a new-look bowling side. They quickly collapsed to 36 for five in the Power Play, with none of the top four reaching double figures.
Gerald Coetzee, Ottneil Baartman, and Keshav Maharaj all took two wickets, with debutant Nqobani Mokoena taking three wickets for only 26 runs in 3.3 overs.
Jimmy Neesham (26 off 21 balls) provided some resistance, while Bevon Jacobs (ten off seven), Mitch Santner (15 off 19) and Cole McConchi (15 off eleven) were the only other players to reach double figures.
Man of the Match Nqobani Mokoena. Photo: X/Proteas Men
The Black Caps were quickly bundled out for 91 with five overs remaining; they were not going to hand South Africa an easy victory. The Proteas batsmen had to keep their wits about them to reach the required target.
Opener Tony de Zorzi was dismissed for only two runs, while Rubin Herman also lost his wicket early for only seven runs. The loss of Jason Smith’s wicket had the South African changing room uneasy on 55 for three.
However, South Africa’s wicket-keeper and opener Connor Esterhuizen compiled a steady 45 not out from 48 deliveries to ensure the win. Allrounder and former Knights cricketer, Dian Forrester hit 16 from 25 balls with just one four to help Esterhuizen tip-toe over the finish line with 20 balls to spare.
Proteas women
Earlier in the day, the Proteas women were thrashed in their opening T20 match against New Zealand when they lost by 80 runs.
The White Ferns’ Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer struck half-centuries and shared a massive 146-run stand, powering New Zealand to 190 off seven in the first T20.
Kerr smashed 78 while Plimmer’s 63 kept the scoring rate high through the middle overs. Masabata Klaas and Nadine de Klerk both took two wickets, while Ayabonga Khaka and Nonkululeko Mlaba also picked up a wicket each.
The Proteas women’s innings never really got going, with only Tamzin Brits (29 off 35 balls) and Kayla Reyneke (24 off 18) putting reasonable totals on the board. Sune Luus (ten off eleven) and De Klerk were the only other players to make it to double figures.
The White Ferns easily beat the Proteas women in the first match of the double-header. Photo: X/White Ferns
Sophie Devine was New Zealand’s most successful bowler, taking four wickets for only 12 runs.
The next double header will take place on Tuesday (17/3) in Hamilton.
