NZ vs South Africa: 5th T20 – Toss & Lineups Revealed

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captain Jimmy Neesham won the toss and elected to bowl first in the fifth and deciding Twenty20 match against South Africa at Hagley Oval on Wednesday.

The series is tied at 2-2 after a fluctuating contest between the two sides. South Africa claimed the opening match in Paarl by seven wickets, before New Zealand responded with victories in the second and third matches, winning by 68 runs and eight wickets respectively. South Africa then leveled the series with a 19-run win in Wellington on Sunday.

Both teams have named unchanged lineups for this crucial match, a first for the series. This means South Africa retains spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who impressed on his debut in the fourth T20I at Wellington.

New Zealand’s lineup features Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foukes, Kyle Jamieson, and Ben Sears.

South Africa will field Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester, Jason Smith, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, and Ottneil Baartman.

The match marks the culmination of a closely fought series, with both teams vying for the T20 title. Amelia Kerr’s all-round performance powered New Zealand to a dominant 92-run win in a recent match, sealing a series victory, demonstrating the team’s capabilities in the format.