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New Zealand vs South Africa 5th T20 Preview & Tips - Black Caps backed for T20 series triumph over South Africa

Daryl Curnow
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Last updated: 24 Mar 2026
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Daryl Curnow 24 Mar 2026
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  • The series is tied at 2-2 with a single T20 to be played
  • Keshav Maharaj has taken six wickets across the opening four T20's 
  • Preview, stats & head to head 
New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson (Getty Images)
New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson (Getty Images)

New Zealand vs South Africa 5th T20 Preview & Tips


New Zealand have had a real battle on their hands across their Twenty20 series against South Africa, with the contest currently locked at 2-2 after four matches. 

South Africa kept the series alive as a contest by securing a battling 19-run win in the fourth T20. 

  • The Black Caps have won two of their last three against South Africa 
  • Keshav Maharaj took 2/22 in the fourth T20 

Head To Head


New Zealand have won six of their last 10 T20's against South Africa, with the latter winning the other four. 

New Zealand Form 


New Zealand will feel they let the chance to secure the series win with a game to spare pass them by as they collapsed from 51/1 to 145 all out in their chase of 164. 

Positively, their bowling attack impressed in their outing. While they only took five wickets, they were able to restrict their opponents to 164 from 120 deliveries. Ultimately, it was their batting unit that failed as they were skittled with seven deliveries to spare. 

In the fifth and final T20, New Zealand will feel they are the side to back. They have won two of their last three T20's against the Proteas, while they have six wins in their last nine against South Africa. While South Africa come into this one on the back of a win, New Zealand are my pick as they wrap up the series in a 3-2 triumph. 

South Africa Form 


South Africa impressed with the ball in game four as they bowled their hosts out for just 145 in a 19-run win. 

Five of the 11 New Zealand batters returned single-figure scores, while only two players could make it into the 20's. Keshav Maharaj took 2/22 in another miserly show of bowling as the captain impressed. While South Africa's bowlers looked in good touch in the fourth T20, I worry about the length of their bowling line-up. 

Maharaj coming in at number nine is a worry, especially when considering his overall average of 8.92 is propped up by his average of 17.25 from back in 2022. With South Africa's shorter batting unit in mind, I am backing New Zealand to bounce back from their loss in game four with a battling win. 

Verdict

I am backing the Black Caps to secure a series win despite Keshav Maharaj impressing with the ball once again. 

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