Kamal Ghorui
The five-match T20 series between New Zealand and South Africa is tied at 2-2. Both teams have won two games each, making today’s final match the decider.
James Neesham: We will bowl first. Not too concerned. It looks like a pretty even contest. There’s a bit of grass on the pitch, which should help the ball move around early, so that’s a positive. It’s always great to be back at Hagley Oval. There’s definitely more experience in the group playing here now. We’ve spent a fair bit of time at this venue, and it’s always a fantastic place for cricket. The crowd turns up in numbers and creates a brilliant atmosphere. With the series on the line tonight, it’s an important game, and hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
Keshav Maharaj: We were actually looking to bat first, taking a bit of a cue from the women’s game played earlier. It looked like the better option, especially if the pitch holds up the way it did, so yeah, batting first was probably the plan. Yeah, it’s definitely useful. You do have to factor in a bit of weather overnight, but generally the conditions don’t change too much. It gives you a good reference point, especially from a bowling perspective around the right lines and lengths to hit. And from a batting point of view, it helps you identify scoring areas, whether that’s square of the wicket, through the off-side or straight down the ground.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver(w), Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham(c), Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears
South Africa (Playing XI): Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman
