'Bussin' debut for promising Proteas rookie Nqobani Mokoena in New Zealand

“Cool” and “fun”. 

These were the words Nqobani Mokoena used to describe his Proteas’ T20I debut. 

Considering he is just 19-years old, perhaps the more apt Gen-Z term would have been “Bussin’”, for the teenage fast bowler was exceptionally good in taking 3/26 at the Bay Oval in Mount Manguani.

All in all, though, it was a rather fun night for Mokoena and the Proteas in the first T20I against the Black Caps. 

Fielding a youthful side that included four debutants, including the fiery fast bowler, the Proteas rolled their hosts for just 91. They then negotiated some early trouble before fellow first-timers Connor Esterhuizen (45 not out) and Dian Forrester (16 not out) took their visitors over the line with seven wickets and 20 balls remaining.

"It was quite cool making my debut in the first game. I just went out there and enjoyed it. The whole team was backing me, and I was quite excited,” said Mokoena, who was named Player of the Match.

Mokoena shared the new ball with the equally impressive Gerald Coetzee (2/14) and looked on as his Paarl Royals teammate Ottneil Baartman (2/22) also snared a couple of wickets in the Powerplay to peg back the Black Ferns.

His initial two overs cost 18 runs, although he showed enough pace and movement to find the outside edge that ran away for the boundary.

When called upon again in the 13th over with the Kiwis were in the midst of rebuilding job as Jimmy Neesham and Colin McConchie beginning to forge a partnership, Mokoena was up to the task.

The former SA U19 star had predicted before the game that he wanted to become a premier death bowler, and it was now time to show off his variations — which he duly did. It accounted for Neesham (25) first ball with the veteran slugger well through his shot before Mokoena’s slow off-cutter found the outside edge through to wicketkeeper Esterhuizen. 

Mokoena’s international wicket-tally doubled before the over was out when he charged in, hit the deck hard with a pace-on delivery that Zak Foulkes could only manage to nick behind. 

He later showed that he could also hold his nerve by responding to McConchie smashing him for a boundary by following it up with a slower-ball bouncer that could only be slapped to long-on to bring New Zealand’s innings to a close. 

“It was quite cool, and I just relaxed after that. I was like, okay, at least I got one,” he said. 

“The conditions were in our favour as bowlers. It was quite nippy, so I got to use my slower balls and had fun. I've been practicing and just backed my prep. That's it."

Fellow fast bowler Coetzee was full of praise for the youngster.

"We did our homework, but we also bowled very well tonight in incredible partnerships. I think we got a bit of swing up front, which was nice. Every bowler played their part,” Coetzee said.

“Mokoena is just calm, cool, and collected. It looks like he's played 50 games. I think it's a great bowling performance. This is a kid who has so much promise.”

The Proteas have a short turnaround before the second match at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday.