New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South AfricaNational Cricket Team Match: New Zealand will host South Africa in the first T20I series match of the South Africa tour of New Zealand 2026 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The five match series comes shortly after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, where New Zealand finished runner-up after losing the final to India national cricket team in Ahmedabad. South Africa’s campaign ended in the semifinals against New Zealand. Both teams have rested several key players who featured in the World Cup, resulting in squads with a mix of experienced internationals and younger players.
Match Details
Match: NZ vs SA, 1st T20I
Series: South Africa tour of New Zealand 2026
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
Time: 7:15 PM Local Time | 6:15 AM GMT | 11:45 AM IST
Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Weather Forecast and Pitch Report
Weather conditions in Mount Maunganui are expected to remain clear, with temperatures forecast between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. No rain is predicted during the match.
The pitch at Bay Oval generally offers good bounce and is considered favorable for batting. A total of 180 to 190 runs is typically regarded as competitive at the venue. Spinners may receive some assistance later in the match if the surface begins to wear.
Squads
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Katene Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk), Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (wk), Jayden Lennox, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Ish Sodhi.
South Africa: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Nqobani Mokoena, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Prenelan Subrayen and Jason Smith.
Probable Playing XIs
New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Nick Kelly, Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (captain), Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi.
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Jordan Hermann, Jason Smith, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Wiaan Mulder, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Ottneil Baartman, Nqobani Mokoena.
Broadcast and Live Streaming
In India, the match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on SonyLIV, FanCode, and Amazon Prime Video.
