Mount Maunganui: South Africa won the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand by seven wickets at the Bay Oval on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, the hosts were bundled out for a paltry 91 in 14.3 overs, particularly thanks to some excellent bowling by debutant Nkobani Mogoina.
New Zealand’s innings slumped to 36 for 5 inside the powerplay and lacked momentum. Gerald Coetzee struck early and Tom Latham was caught lbw for 7 runs.
Otneil Bartman struck a double, dismissing Tim Robinson (6) and Nick Kelly (2) in subsequent balls. The innings suffered another setback as Bevon Jacobs was run out for 10 runs.
Captain Mitchell Santner and James Neesham put on 18 runs for the sixth wicket to save some time.
However, Keshav Maharaj bowled Santner for 15 runs. Neesham scored a blistering 26 off 21 balls including 2 fours and a six to become Mokona’s first T20I wicket.
The 24-year-old seamer Mokoina followed up his debut by dismissing Jack Foulkes for a run and then beating Cole McConchie for 15 runs to claim his third scalp.
As New Zealand folded for 91 runs, Maharaj and Mokoina tailed off with little resistance.
Mogoina finished as the bowlers with 3 for 26 in 3.3 overs, with Coetzee, Bartman and Maharaj claiming two wickets each.
In response, the South African team reached the target with the loss of 3 wickets with 16.4 overs remaining. Debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Connor Esterhuizen continued the chase with 45 off 48 balls with 2 fours and several sixes.
Ruan de Swart scored 16 runs off 25 balls and Jason Smith scored 10 runs. Jack Foulkes gave New Zealand an early breakthrough when he dismissed Tony de Sorsi for two in the second over.
Kyle Jamieson accounted for Rubin Herrmann (7) and Mitchell Santner dismissed Smith to briefly lift home hopes, but Esterhuizen’s steady hand ensured the Proteas crossed the line without further warning.
The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday.