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New Delhi: South Africa marked a fabulous turnaround in the T20I series against New Zealand as the Proteas bounced back from 2-1 series down to win the five-match affair 3-2. Connor Esterhuizen played a pivotal role as he blasted a career-best 75 from 33 balls to propel the Proteas to a 33-run win over the Kiwis in the fifth and final match on Wednesday to pocket the series.

Esterhizen’s second consecutive half century after his previous best of 57 in the fourth match on Sunday witnessed South Africa score 187 for 4 after being sent into bat first. New Zealand could only manage 154 for 8 in the stipulated 20 overs. After from Esterhuizen’s match-winning knock, Rubin Hermann and Wiaan Mulder also contributed in the score with 39 and 31 runs respectively.

Dian Forrester scored 21 unbeaten runs in just 13 balls towards the end to help the Proteas cross the 180-run mark. For the Kiwis, Ben Sears was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets while Zakary Foulkes and Josh Clarkson claimed a wicket apiece.

Chasing 188 for a victory, Bevon Jacobs, 36 off 19, emerged as the highest scorer for the side as wickets kept tumbling from the other end. Tim Robinson scored 25 runs while skipper James Neesham put up 24 runs on the board but everything ended as waste in front of a commanding bowling from the South African side.

Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, and Ottneil Baartman claimed two wickets apiece while Keshav Maharaj also picked up a wickets as the Kiwi batters were sent packing by the Proteas bowlers in Christchurch. Connor Esterhuizen was named the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series for a fabulous show all through.