The fifth and final match of the South Africa tour of New Zealand at Basin Reserve saw South Africa deliver a dominant performance to clinch a convincing 45-run victory, sealing the series in emphatic fashion.

Batting first, South Africa endured a shaky start as both Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs were dismissed for ducks within the first over. The early collapse put immense pressure on the middle order, but Wiaan Mulder rose to the occasion with a brilliant counterattacking knock.

Mulder remained unbeaten on 33 off just 15 balls, striking boundaries at crucial moments and holding the innings together almost single-handedly. Support came in patches from Marco Jansen (7) and Lungi Ngidi (11), helping South Africa reach 69 runs before being bowled out in 7.4 overs — a modest total but one that proved more than competitive given the conditions.

New Zealand’s bowlers shared the wickets effectively, with Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, and Will O'Rourke all picking up two wickets each, ensuring South Africa never built sustained partnerships.

However, the chase turned into a complete collapse. New Zealand’s batting lineup crumbled under relentless pressure from South Africa’s pace attack. Marco Jansen produced a sensational spell, claiming five wickets for just one run in a devastating over that ripped through the lower order and effectively ended the contest.

He was well supported by Keshav Maharaj, who picked up three crucial wickets, including key middle-order dismissals, while Kagiso Rabada chipped in with one.

Despite a brief resistance from Michael Bracewell (12 off 3) and Glenn Phillips (6*), New Zealand never recovered from their early setbacks. The entire team was bowled out for just 24 runs in 5 overs, marking one of their lowest totals in the format.

South Africa’s comprehensive 45-run victory highlighted their dominance in the latter half of the series. From being under pressure early on, they staged a remarkable comeback, finishing the series on a high with a clinical performance driven by Marco Jansen’s extraordinary five-wicket haul and Wiaan Mulder’s match-winning innings.