Proteas debutant seamer Nqobani Mokoena.
Image: AFP
The Proteas Men’s seamers led the way in the first T20I against New Zealand at Mount Manganui on Sunday.
Teenage debutant Nqobani Mokoena enjoyed a dream first outing for the Proteas with excellent figures of 3/26 to roll the Black Caps for just 91.
Mokoena did all of his damage in his second spell when he picked up the big wicket of Jimmy Neesham (26 off 21 balls) before also having Zak Foulkes caught behind by fellow debutant Connor Esterhuizen in the same over.
The 19-year-old completed the job when the Proteas T20 World Cup semifinal nemesis Cole McConchie held out in the deep.
The early damage was, however, done by Gerald Coetzee, who made a positive return from a lengthy injury with the impressive figures of 2/14 from his three overs.
Ottneil Baartman also showed why he is the leading fast bowler in Betway SA20 history with figures of 2/22.
With Rubin Hermann also executing an excellent run-out, the Black Caps were in complete disarray at 36/5 after the Powerplay.
Captain Keshav Maharaj, who is playing his 50th T20I for the Proteas, maintained the pressure by clean bowling his opposite number Mitchell Santner (15) before finishing his spell with wicket of Kyle Jamieson. Maharaj’s figures were 2/25.
The only concern for the Proteas is that another debutant Jordan Hermann was forced to leave the field with an injury, which could impact his ability to bat in the run chase.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand: 91 all out (Neesham 25, Santner 15, Mokoena 3/26, Coetzee 2/14, Baartman 2/22, Maharaj 2/25)
South Africa requires 92 to win