New Zealand bat; South Africa pick four debutants

South Africa's XI looks almost entirely different to the one that lost to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semi-final

Firdose Moonda

Published: Mar 15, 2026, 6:21 AM (1 hr ago)

New Zealand chose to bat v South Africa

South Africa threw all four of their newcomers in at the deep end as they kicked off their series against New Zealand in the first of five T20Is, which also involves double headers with the respective women's teams.

Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena were all given their first international caps in an XI that looks almost entirely different to the one that lost to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semi-final 11 days ago.

Keshav Maharaj is the only South African to have played in that match and stands in as captain for Aiden Markram. Jason Smith and George Linde were part of the squad but on the bench and took their places as two of the more senior members in the side today.

New Zealand have three members of the team that beat South Africa in this XI and all eyes will be on the offspinner Cole McConchie. He bowled just one over in the semi-final but it proved game-changing and rocked South Africa's left-handed-laden top-order. There's a bit more of the same this time with two left-handers - Jordan Hermann and Tony de Zorzi - in the top three. Jordan's brother, Rubin, is also in the XI which makes it the first time siblings have played for South Africa since Morne and Albie Morkel.

Before McConchie gets ball in hand, South Africa will bowl to a New Zealand line-up filled with experience at the top. Tom Latham joined Devon Conway in the opening berth before a new-look middle order headlined by big-hitting Bevan Jacobs.

While the surface looks good for run-scoring as earlier in the day, New Zealand women's team piled on 190 for 7 and beat South Africa by 80 runs, there's something to be expected for spinners too.

New Zealand: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Tom Latham (wk), 3 Tim Robinson, 4 Nick Kelly, 5 Bevon Jacobs, 6 Mitchell Santner (capt), 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Cole McConchie, 9 Zak Foulkes, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Ben Sears

South Africa: 1 Connor Esterhuizen (wk), 2 Jordan Hermann, 3 Tony de Zorzi, 4 Rubin Hermann, 5 Jason Smith, 6 Dian Forrester, 7 George Linde, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj (capt), 10 Nqobani Mokoena, 11 Ottneil Baartman

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent for South Africa and women's cricket

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