Clinical South Africa make it 2-2

Connor Esterhuizen's half-century and a collective bowling effort gave South Africa a series-levelling win in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Wellington. Esterhuizen's 36-ball 57, along with useful contributions from the rest of the batters, helped South Africa post 164 for 5. In response, New Zealand were bundled out for 145, with Gerald Coetzee taking three wickets while debutant Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman and Keshav Maharaj picked up two each.

Tim Robinson and debutant Katene Clarke provided a quick start to the chase with a flurry of boundaries before Wiaan Mulder struck in the third over to dismiss Clarke for 9. Robinson had luck going his way, with an inside edge evading the keeper and a dropped catch at midwicket. A six for Dane Cleaver brought up New Zealand's fifty in the fifth over. South Africa finally dismissed Robinson when Coetzee had him caught at backward point off a top-edge. A boundary and a six for Cleaver in the same over helped New Zealand end the Powerplay at 63/2.

South Africa hit back strongly with quick wickets, reducing New Zealand to 96/5 by the 12th over. Cleaver was bowled by a full delivery from Subrayen, who also cleaned up Bevon Jacobs with a yorker. James Neesham, standing in as captain for the injured Tom Latham, had a couple of reprieves before getting a top-edge off Baartman.

Cole McConchie and Nick Kelly tried to counter-attack but that was cut short as Maharaj accounted for both in the 14th over, leaving New Zealand at 112/7. Zakary Foulkes had a short stay too, becoming Baartman's second scalp. Coetzee got his second wicket when he dismissed Josh Clarkson late on. The last-wicket pair delayed the finish before Coetzee got Kyle Jamieson with a short ball to wrap up the game in the 19th over.

Earlier, after South Africa opted to bat, Jamieson set the tone with a wicket-maiden in the first over, removing Mulder. Esterhuizen counterpunched effectively to ensure a productive Powerplay for South Africa. After Tony de Zorzi struck two fours off Foulkes in the second over, Esterhuizen took over, hitting four fours and three sixes inside the first six overs to take South Africa to 50.

Esterhuizen raced to a 33-ball fifty and de Zorzi also got going as they took the partnership to 81 before Ben Sears removed the half-centurion in the 10th over thanks to a stunning catch from Clarke. McConchie dismissed de Zorzi soon after, leaving South Africa at 85/3 after 11 overs.

Rubin Hermann guided South Africa in the latter half with a composed 28, while Dian Forrester and Jason Smith added brief bursts of momentum. George Linde's late cameo helped push the total beyond 160. Sears stood out with an exceptional final over in which he conceded only two runs, capping a strong comeback from the hosts, although it eventually went in vain.

Brief scores: South Africa 164/5 in 20 overs (Connor Esterhuizen 57, Rubin Hermann 28*; Kyle Jamieson 2-29) beat New Zealand 145 in 18.5 overs (Tim Robinson 32; Gerald Coetzee 3-31, Prenelan Subrayen 2-13) by 19 runs.