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A new-look South Africa scythed through New Zealand\u2019s batting lineup to comfortably win Sunday\u2019s first Twenty20 international by seven wickets, with 20 balls to spare.<\/strong><\/p>\n The visitors\u2019 seam attack proved unplayable early on as World Cup finalists New Zealand were reduced to 36-5 before being dismissed for 91 in the 15th over, their 10th lowest total in T20s.<\/p>\n South Africa eased to 93-3 in response, with opener Connor Esterhuizen\u2019s unbeaten 45 off 48 balls ensuring they would claim early honours in the five-match series.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old was one of four South African players making their international debut in any format, alongside Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena.<\/p>\n Teenage pace bowler Mokoena impressed with the ball, exploiting unpredictable bounce at Mount Maunganui\u2019s Bay Oval to take 3-26 off 3.3 overs.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old ripped through New Zealand\u2019s tail to ensure they didn\u2019t push their total past 100.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite cool making my debut. I just went out there and enjoyed it,\u201d Mokoena, 19, said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe whole team was backing me and I was quite excited for it.<\/p>\n \u201cI just stuck to my plans and thank God it came off.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow pacemen Gerald Coetzee and Ottneil Baartman took two wickets each for South Africa.<\/p>\n The match came a week after New Zealand were beaten by India in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.<\/p>\n Only captain Mitchell Santner and allrounder Jimmy Neesham were retained, with most of New Zealand\u2019s leading players rested.<\/p>\n Santner was the pick of their bowlers, taking 1-8 off four overs while Neesham top-scored with 26 before he was Mokoena\u2019s first victim.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s last match was their World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand.<\/p>\n The only Proteas survivor from that match was spinner Keshav Maharaj, who is captain for this series and played his 50th T20 international.<\/p>\n Game two is in Hamilton on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n