New Delhi, March 24: New Zealand cricket team has suffered a significant setback as star wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham has been ruled out of the fifth T20 match against South Africa due to injury. Latham was also absent from the fourth T20 match because of this injury.
New Zealand Cricket announced on their social media account ‘X’ that Latham will not play in the fifth T20 due to a left thumb injury. Scans revealed a minor fracture in his thumb, which will keep him away from cricket for the next two to three weeks. Latham sustained this injury during the third T20 match against South Africa. In the fourth T20, James Neesham captained the team in Latham’s absence, as regular captain Mitchell Santner was rested for the last two T20 matches. Latham was expected to lead the team in Santner’s absence. Tom Blundell will join the New Zealand squad as a cover player.
In the third T20, Latham was hit on the thumb by a bouncer from South African fast bowler Nakobani Mokoeana and appeared to be in considerable pain. Despite the injury, he continued to bat and led New Zealand to an 8-wicket victory, scoring an unbeaten 63 runs off 55 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes.
The final match of the T20 series is scheduled to be played on March 25 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The series is currently tied at 2-2, with South Africa winning the first and fourth T20 matches. New Zealand secured victories in the second and third T20 matches. In the fourth T20, South Africa batted first and scored 164 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs, with Connor Esterhuizen making an impressive 57 runs off 36 balls. However, New Zealand’s entire team was bowled out for 145 runs. South African bowler Gerald Coetzee took the most wickets with 3, while Prenelan Subrayen claimed 2 wickets for just 13 runs.