New Zealand vs South Africa 1st T20I Predictions - Santner to hit SA for 5th defeat in six T20Is

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Mitchell Santner scored 43 off 35 balls against India in the World Cup final.
Jordan Hermann has scored 94, 110, 25 & 28 in his last six innings.
Can New Zealand beat South Africa for the 5th time in 6 T20Is?

Mitchell Santner hits out against Sri Lanka (Getty Images).

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions

New Zealand suffered a 7-wicket defeat to South Africa in their group match, but hit back by beating the Proteas by 9 wickets in the World Cup semi-final.

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions
Head-to-Head
New Zealand Form
South Africa Form
New Zealand vs South Africa Team News & Squads

New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner has scored 47 & 43 in his last 2 innings.
New Zealand’s Devon Conway has scored 1739 runs (ave 35.48) in T20Is.
South Africa’s Jordan Hermann averages 31.45 in T20Is.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj took 1/24 against New Zealand and 3/24 against India in the World Cup.

Head-to-Head

New Zealand have won four and lost one of their last five T20Is against South Africa.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand suffered their 2nd defeat in 3 matches when they lost to India in the World Cup final.

After demolishing South Africa by 9 wickets in their semi-final clash, New Zealand went down to India by 96 runs in the final.

India smashed 255/5 off their 20 overs, with James Neesham (3/46) enjoying the most success with the ball. Mitchell Santner was the most economical of the Black Caps bowlers, bowling his 4 overs for 33 runs (econ 8.25).

Needing to bat at almost 13 runs to the over, New Zealand were in trouble at 72/5 when they lost opener Tim Seifert for an explosive 52 off 26 balls (5 sixes). Mitchell Santner (43 off 35) was the only other batter to pass 17 as New Zealand were rolled for 159 off 19 overs.

South Africa Form

South Africa had won all 7 of their matches in the World Cup before they lost to New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

South Africa’s in-form top-order failed to fire as New Zealand reduced them to 77/5 in the 11th over. Dewald Brevis scored 34, but it was the 6th-wicket stand of 73 between Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) and Marco Jansen (55* off 30) that saved the Proteas from total embarrassment.

Kagiso Rabada (1/28, econ 9.33) was South Africa’s most economical bowler and the only one to take a wicket as New Zealand powered to a 9-wicket win off 12.5 overs.

New Zealand vs South Africa Team News & Squads

New Zealand’s captaincy duties for the five-match T20I series against South Africa will be shared between Mitchell Santner and Tom Latham, with the latter taking the reins for the last two games of the series.

Offspinning allrounder Michael Bracewell remains on the treatment table, along with bowlers Adam Milne, Blair Tickner and Will O'Rourke.

"We're lucky to have strong depth across the different skill-sets which has afforded us the opportunity to rest a few players and introduce some others. That provides an excellent opportunity for many to stake their claim for regular inclusion in the T20 team moving forward as we begin a new World Cup cycle," said selector Gavin Larsen in a press conference.

"It's a great opportunity for Kiwi fans to see many of our guys back on the park so quickly after the World Cup and I know those in the squad are looking forward to playing in front of their home crowd again," added Larsen.

South Africa and Dolphins allrounder Eathan Bosch will miss the series due to a hamstring injury, with his place taken by allrounder Wiaan Mulder.

South Africa are likely to blood talented 25-year-old allrounder Dian Forrester in the series after some superb performances in the SA20.

"Ever since I was a little kid, all I ever wanted to do was play for the Proteas. There was no bigger dream, and to see the squad announced and be part of it was a surreal moment. I still can’t believe it," said Forrester in a press briefing ahead of the series.

Forrester scored 175 runs for the Joburg Super Kings (ave 58.33, S/R 165.09) in the recent SA20 series.

New Zealand T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Katene Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (c), Jayden Lennox, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.

South Africa T20I squad: Keshav Maharaj (c), Ottneil Baartman, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Nqobani Mokoena, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Prenelan Subrayen, Jason Smith.