Big picture: Spotlight on the second string
Unusually difficult conditions for batting allowed for only 184 runs and 13 wickets, in 31.1 overs of play at Mount Maunganui. So both New Zealand and South Africa might enjoy the change of scenery on Tuesday when the series shifts to Hamilton, which yielded a first innings total of 240 in its most recent T20 game. Katene Clark made 97 off 58 for Northern Districts that day, highlighting the value he can bring as a see-ball-hit-ball opener, which prompted the selectors to call him up. Initially, Clark was meant to play only the final two matches of this series but has been drafted in early to cover for Bevon Jacobs who has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game with bruising on his left knee.New Zealand and South Africa are competing against each other with largely experimental squads. The Black Caps have high hopes for Tim Robinson and Jacobs, however their inability to negotiate conditions when they weren’t in their favour at Bay Oval was disappointing. In contrast, South Africa’s second string led by the 19-year-old fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena, comeback man Gerald Coetzee and T20 specialist Ottneil Baartman seized the early initiative and never gave it up. In a five-match series such as this, there is time for a little ebb and flow. New Zealand, 0-1 down, will hope it is their turn to take charge now.
New Zealand: LLWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: WLWWW
Players to watch: Ferguson and de Zorzi
Lockie Ferguson had an excellent T20 World Cup leading into the final, but in Ahmedabad he wilted, going for 48 runs in two overs. New Zealand didn’t trust their point-of-difference fast bowler to complete his spell that day. Perhaps a return to more familiar surroundings will help him find his mojo. In his only previous T20I at Hamilton, Ferguson picked up 2 for 25 against Bangladesh in March 2021.Tony de Zorzi missed the bus to the T20 World Cup due to injury and South Africa’s performance there – going unbeaten to the semi-final – suggested that the team they eventually ended up with was the one they should’ve picked in the first place. Now given a chance with many of those players resting, de Zorzi will want to push his case and eventually become one of those first-teamers.
Team news: More bench players on show
Both teams picked up injury concerns in the first T20I on Sunday and given the quick turnaround Jordan Hermann (hamstring) may not have enough time to recover and hold onto his place in the XI. Ish Sodhi, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the whole series with a broken thumb. Jacobs, for now, is out for the second T20I alone.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway (wk), 2 Tom Latham, 3 Tim Robinson, 4 Nick Kelly, 5 Josh Clarkson, 6 Mitchell Santner (capt), 7 James Neesham, 8 Cole McConchie, 9 Zak Foulkes, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Lockie Ferguson
South Africa (probable): 1 Tony de Zorzi, 2 Wiaan Mulder/Jordan Hermann, 3 Connor Esterhuizen, 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
Pitch and conditions: High-scoring Hamilton
Tuesday’s game will be the 14th T20I at Seddon Park and eight of those games had first-innings scores of 180 and more. A mild to chilly day is on the cards with a high of 24C and a low of 10C. There is no threat of rain.
