New Zealand national cricket team elected to bat first against South Africa national cricket team in the opening match of their five-game T20I series, with the visitors fielding a dramatically reshaped side that included four debutants.
South Africa handed maiden international caps to Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena as they began the series with a fresh-looking XI. The line-up bears little resemblance to the team that lost to New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup just 11 days earlier.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj is the only player from that semi-final side to feature in this match and is leading the team in the absence of regular captain Aiden Markram. More experienced squad members Jason Smith and George Linde also returned to the playing XI.
New Zealand, meanwhile, included three players who were part of their World Cup semi-final victory over South Africa. Offspinner Cole McConchie is expected to play a key role again after his decisive spell in that match, where a single over disrupted South Africa’s left-hand-heavy top order.
South Africa’s batting line-up again features left-handers at the top with Jordan Hermann and Tony de Zorzi in the top three. Jordan also lines up alongside his brother Rubin Hermann, marking the first time siblings have played together for South Africa since Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel.
New Zealand’s top order is anchored by Devon Conway and Tom Latham, with the middle order featuring power-hitter Bevon Jacobs and captain Mitchell Santner.
The match forms part of a double-header series alongside the women’s teams, played on a surface that earlier produced plenty of runs, though conditions could also assist spin later in the game. 🏏