Christchurch, March 25 – South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj praised the efforts and determination of the young players as the team secured a 33-run victory against New Zealand in the final T20I to win the five-match series 3-2 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday.
Batting first, South Africa posted 187/4 in 20 overs, with Esterhuizen leading the batting attack. In reply, New Zealand were dismissed for just 154 runs in 20 overs, losing the match by 33 runs.
Despite being 2-1 behind after the first three matches, South Africa mounted a brilliant comeback and won the last two matches to clinch the series. Maharaj believes that this win will provide crucial lessons for the young players who were making their international debut.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for these young players to understand what international cricket is all about. I think coming here, many people didn't give us much credit with the young side we had, but to see their hunger, desire, and passion, and to come back from 2-1 and win the series is truly special. It shows the depth of our system and how well these young players are performing," Maharaj said in the post-match presentation.
"As I said, going 2-1 down might not have been our best start, but to see the young players come through and put in two really good performances with the bat, I think as a captain and as a coaching staff, we can be very happy. We may not have the experience here, but to see how the players played, it felt like a smooth transition into international cricket despite the pressure," he added.
Five debutants played in the series, as the main players were rested after the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026, where South Africa lost to New Zealand in the semi-final.