END OF OVER:20 | 3 Runs 2 Wkts | SA: 177/6 (4 runs required, RR: 8.85)
- Senuran Muthusamy0 (1b)
- Corbin Bosch3 (2b)
- Matt Henry3-0-19-2
- Jacob Duffy4-0-36-1
4:50pm And...breathe. A frenetic end to a tri-series that was a slow-burn at times, but ignited right when the stakes were amped up. South Africa will rue a missed opportunity; New Zealand will be proud of winning a game many felt they had lost. We hope you enjoyed our coverage just as much as we loved bringing it to you. Until next time, this is goodbye from Thilak, myself (Shashwat) and everyone here at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Matt Henry, the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series: As a group, we have been playing some really good cricket. To get over the line, in a tight game, really proud of the guys. (On the conditions) It skidded on quite a lot early, so had to drag our length back. The way they (SA openers) started and got off to a flier…credit to the guys in the middle for staying in the fight. (On when he came to know he would bowl the 20th) I knew it was going to be one of the last two. Great to get the last one, and when it goes your way, it is brilliant. It is great to come here, and stepping towards what is a big year of T20 cricket -a World Cup coming up and a big home series as well. The way guys are being brave with their skill-set - that is what we have been asking of people, and hopefully we can build on that.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: (Most pleasing aspect about today) The way we were able to hang in there. 180 was a pretty good score. We could have potentially got a couple more. The way they (South Africa) bowled at the death was outstanding. Throughout this tri-series, if you don't pick up wickets in the powerplay, it is tough (to contain). We were reasonably happy (with our score) but knew we needed to bowl well. Guys stepped up at different occasions. As a captain and as a squad, that is outstanding. The guys were ready and clear on how to operate (on a pitch like that) and that makes it easier (as captain). (On his chat to Henry in the final over) Still trying to get hit to the big side. He (Brevis) looked pretty tough to stop. We needed wickets, and that was the chance. After that, he (Henry) executed everything.
Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa captain: Really proud of that performance. Played a pretty good game, did everything we asked the guys to do. It is a game of millimeters. Seven off six, we needed a centimeter more (with that Brevis six). From the outset, the whole series was about trying things and experimenting a bit. Today, settling on our strongest possible combination. We played a pretty good game. They (New Zealand) are a good and experienced team. For the young guys to come this close, they will learn a lot from it. Everyone has contributed, especially the young guys. A lot of guys are not here and resting. Young guys putting their hand up, saying they want to be a part of this team - that is always a good place to be in. We have grown a lot as a team.
4:30pm Phew. That is probably the only expression that can be let out. This game ebbed and flowed, and even that might seem an understatement. South Africa had it. They had New Zealand just where they wanted them. Brevis was smashing the ball to all parts, and Linde was jogging along nicely too. But then, Brevis fell, and he fell to a piece of astute boundary-rope fielding. Mitchell then turned it up a couple of notches and flung himself out of nowhere to send Linde packing, and once those events unfolded, NZ felt it was their evening.
And so it proved to be. Despite being behind the eight-ball for much of the second innings, largely due to Pretorius and his pyrotechnics at the top. But when push came to shove, New Zealand, who have been the standout team of this tri-series, showed just why that had been the case all along. An excellent display of nerve, not just from Henry who bowled the last over but from everyone who played a part, and they have left South Africa shell-shocked and most importantly, stranded.
Stick around for the post-match presentation and to hear what the captains, the POTM and the POTS have to say.
Four off the last ball. Surely no Super Over? Muthusamy on strike. Henry to bowl from over the wicket
GF Linde c Mitchell b Henry 10 (29m 10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100
4 off 2. SA favourites? NZ favourites? Who knows after all we have been through!