NZ vs RSA Today Match Prediction and Betting Tips, Odds and Live Score

The New Zealand team will play the second T20I against South Africa at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on 17th March from 11:45 am onwards. South Africa has taken a 1-0 lead in the series after a 7-wicket victory in the first game at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

The first match of the series came just 11 days after their semifinal clash in Kolkata, but both teams fielded weakened sides. South Africa, captained by Keshav Maharaj and featuring four debutants, struck early with the ball. New Zealand collapsed to five wickets in the Powerplay, and despite a brief effort from Jimmy Neesham (26), debutant Nqobani Mokoena ran through the lower order to bowl them out for just 91 in the 15th over.

Chasing 92, South Africa faced a few early setbacks as Zakary Foulkes dismissed Tony de Zorzi. However, Connor Esterhuizen helped stabilize the innings with his 45 off 48. Esterhuizen eventually sealed the win for South Africa with 20 balls to spare, giving the visitors a confidence-boosting start to the series.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

RSA

W
L
W
W
W

HEAD TO HEAD

New Zealand Preview

It was a low-scoring first game that New Zealand might want to forget quickly and move on to the next one. They were bowled out to 91 in the first innings. James Neesham was the only batter to score more than 20 (26) runs. The bowlers couldn’t manage to hold the visitors, resulting in a 7-wicket defeat. 

Losing the first 4 wickets on 21 runs and the last 4 in 11 showed the weaknesses of the New Zealand batting unit. And it was with an experienced squad. Devon Conway will open with Tom Latham. Conway scored 1 while Latham scored 7 in the first game. Conway has 332 runs in the 17 games since 2024, while Latham has just 523 runs in 24 innings. Tim Robinson will come in at number three. He scored 6 runs. Robinson has scored 567 runs in 25 T20Is played in the last two years at a strike rate of 138.86 with a century and 2 half-centuries.

Nick Kelly will come in the middle with Bevon Jacobs, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, and Mitchell Santner. Jacobs scored 10 off 7 before getting run out. Jacobs was the third leading run-scorer in the recent Super Smash with 361 runs at a strike rate of 164.84. He scored 5 half-centuries in the last 6 games. He will be the batter to watch out for. Santner scored 15 in the first game. Neesham was the leading run-scorer in the first game with 26 runs. Overall, only 2 sixes were scored by NZ in the first game.

Mitchell Santner will lead the bowling attack with Kyle Jamieson, McConchie, Neesham, and Zakary Foulkes. Santener gave just 8 runs in 4 overs and picked up a wicket. Jamieson and Foulkes picked up a wicket each.

Key Players: Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs, Tom Latham.

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs, Tom Latham, Nick Kelly, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Zakary Foulkes, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes, Devon Conway.

South Africa Preview

A dominant win in the first game has raised South Africa’s hopes. Tony de Zorzi will open the innings with debutant Connor Esterhuizen. Zorzi scored just 2 runs off 8 balls. On the other hand, Esterhuizen remained unbetaen on 45 with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Rubin Hermann will come in at number three. He scored 7 runs. Rubin scored 226 runs for Pearl Royals in 10 games in the recent SA20.

Jason Smith will come in the middle with Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, and George Linde. Smith scored 10 runs while Forrester scored 16. Jordan didn’t get a chance to bat. He had scored 273 runs in 10 games for the champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Linde will be the plate to watch out for. He has 333 runs in 23 innings at a strike rate of 142 and has picked up 34 wickets at an economy of 7.45.

The bowlers did a fabulous job for SA in the first game. Gerald Coetzee dismissed Devon Conway and Tom Latham inside the first 13 deliveries, while Ottneil Baartman removed two more in a single over. Keshav Maharaj will lead the bowling attack with Ottneil Baartman, Nqobani Mokoena, and Gerald Coetzee. Maharaj picked up 2 wickets . He now has 8 wickets in the last 7 games. Mokoena was awarded the player of the match for his 3 wickets.

Key Players: Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Rubin Hermann.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Rubin Hermann, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Nqobani Mokoena.

Weather Conditions

The weather in Hamilton is expected to be sunny on match day, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 21 degrees Celsius. Winds will blow from the southeast at 6-10 km/h. 

NZ vs RSA Pitch Report

The match will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on 17th March from 11:45 am onwards. The average first innings score at the Poweel Oval is 167, 22 more than the second innings. Devon Conway has 112 runs in 2 innings played here. 

Toss: To Bat

It is a batting-friendly pitch. In the 21 T20Is played here, the team defending the target has won on 11 occasions. The team winning the toss should bat first. Thrice, the team batting first has scored more than 200 runs here.