A bet, a bat, and a breakout: The making of Esterhuizen's dream debut series

Backed by his captain Maharaj, the 24-year old anchored SA's turnaround and emerged as the defining batter of the series

After the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen will have extra luggage for his return flight: two Player-of-the-Match awards, one Player-of-the-Series award, and an additional bat.

"I had told him [Esterhuizen] if he gets 75, I'll give him a bat," South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj said after the fifth T20I in Christchurch.

Batting first, South Africa posted 187 for 4, with Esterhuizen smashing 75 off just 33 balls with the help of five fours and six sixes. In response, New Zealand could post only 154 for 8, losing the match by 33 runs and the series by 3-2.RelatedCovid 'sort of a saving grace in cricketing terms' for Esterhuizen

Esterhuizen, bowlers lead South Africa to 3-2 series win

Esterhuizen had started the series with an unbeaten 45 off 48 balls on debut. On the face of it, his innings belonged to ODI cricket, not T20, but this was exactly what South Africa needed to chase down a target of 92 on a difficult Mount Maunganui pitch.

Esterhuizen had two low scores in the next two games but bounced back to end the series with two half-centuries. In all, he scored 200 runs at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 145.98. His tally was double that of the next best: Devon Conway with 100.

"The way he bounced back, read conditions and led the batting line-up [was great to see]," Maharaj said. "Him coming in his debut series and getting an MoM and a Man of the Series on some tough wickets is super special. I think the knock today summed up the calibre of player he is. Hopefully, he grows from stint to stint and keeps putting in the performances and gets noticed for various formats of the game for South Africa."

Coincidentally, Maharaj is Esterhuizen's captain at Pretoria Capitals, too, in the SA20 and he has watched the rookie from close quarters. Pretoria Capitals were the runners-up in the recent edition but Esterhuizen didn't have a great time with the bat. He played all 12 games but could score only 166 runs at an average of 15.09 and a strike rate of 105.73. But Maharaj said he has taken him under his wings.Connor Esterhuizen did not have a great time for Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2025-26•SA20

"I was fortunate enough to spend the whole SA20 with him, just to see how he goes about his business. He's a real hard worker. He's someone who's under my wing.

"I don't think many can hit cricket shots like that in the middle of the way he does. He has a sweet timer of the ball. But [it's good to see] just how clear he is and how hungry he is to want to do well."

Maharaj also took some credit for Esterhuizen's performances in the New Zealand series.

"In the first game, he sat next to me, and the next two, he did not sit next to me," Maharaj said on a lighter note. "I called him in before the fourth, and I was like, 'Well if you want runs, you've got to come sit next to me.' And then he got a fifty in Wellington. Today I was like, 'What's going on?' He followed me from the nets with his bag to come sit [with me]. And he knew the bet from the start was that if he gets 75 or more, he gets a bat from me. So he came and just pulled the bat out of my bag."

Reflecting on the series win, Maharaj said it was "super special" for a young South Africa side to come back from 2-1 down to win 3-2.

"I think it speaks to the character within the sides and the depth in the systems that we have, and the attitudes towards everything," he said. "There was a real hunger and desire and sort of energy around the field. Having gone 2-1 down in the way that we did, to bounce back the way we did is absolutely phenomenal.

"A lot of people, when it comes to pressure, they run away but to see how guys went through it, embraced everything and just found a way to get going. It was a very slow start to the series. I know we went 1-0 up but it was quite nervy, if I'm honest. And then we were completely outplayed in the next two. But to see the bounce back and put in the dominant performances in game four and five was super special. Obviously, there has been some good chats but to see the response to the chat is most impressive for me.