NZ vs SA Live Score, 1st T20I: New Zealand loses five wickets inside PowerPlay after electing to bat

PLAYING XI

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham (wk), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears.

South Africa: Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Jordan Hermann, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (c), Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman.

TOSS

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.

PREVIEW

The Kiwis will want to put their T20 World Cup 2026 final defeat against India behind them as they prepare for the next showpiece in 2028. While Mitchell Santner will lead the host for the first three matches of the series, Tom Latham will take over captaincy duties for the last two games.

Explosive Kiwi openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, as well as all-rounder Glenn Phillips, middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell and pacers Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy, have been rested for the series.

Devon Conway is likely to don the wicketkeeping gloves and open the batting, while Lockie Ferguson will spearhead the pace attack.

South Africa has also announced a new-look squad for the series, with Keshav Maharaj leading the side in the absence of Aiden Markram, who has been rested. The squad includes as many as five uncapped players—Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, Eathan Bosch and Nqobani Mokoena.

The Proteas will look to shake off their nine-wicket T20 World Cup semifinal loss to the Kiwis earlier this month and start afresh.

WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH

The first T20I between New Zealand and South Africa will be televised live in India on the Sony Sports Network from 11:45 AM IST. The match will also be available for live streaming on the SonyLIV and FanCode app and website.

THE SQUADS

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

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

Published on Mar 15, 2026