Hosts New Zealand levelled the five-match T20I series against South Africa with a dominant 68-run win at the Seddon Park in Hamilton Tuesday.
After being put in to bat New Zealand relied on Opener Devon Conway's experience to post a challenging target. Conway and his batting partner Tom Latham built an excellent opening partnership for New Zealand after they won the toss and chose to bat first. The pair reached their score of 48 runs without losing a wicket which they achieved in 6.2 overs.
Latham scored 11 runs on 10 balls until Keshav Maharaj deceived him and dismissed him from the game. The hosts reached 55-2 after Tom Robinson who batted third base was dismissed for one run to George Linde in the 7.2-over period.
Conway scored 60 runs from 49 balls to become the top scorer while hitting five boundaries and two sixes. He established a fast 37-run partnership with Nick Kelly in order to build their third wicket stand. Kelly scored 21 runs from 12 balls during his time at the crease in the middle order.
Captain Santner contributed 20 runs to the team total while Cole McConchie scored 18 off 12 and Josh Clarkson chipped in with 26 off 9 to give late innings fireworks which enabled New Zealand to reach a total of 175-6 after 20 overs.
Wiaan Mulder from South Africa bowled effectively by taking two wickets for 14 runs in two overs while dismissing Kelly and Conway who scored well. Linde, Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman, and new-ball pacer Gerald Coetzeeeach took one wicket for their respective teams.
South Africa started their chase successfully as they reached 29-0 after five overs with Mulder and Connor Esterhuizen batting. The New Zealand team faced early losses when both players began their innings with aggressive batting which resulted in multiple boundaries. Ben Sears removed Esterhuizen before Santner dismissed Mulder soon after.
Number three Tony de Zorzi managed only a single before McConchie tightened New Zealand’s grip, reducing the Proteas to 31-3. Rubin Hermann scored 19 runs from 12 balls while Jason Smith scored 12 runs from 13 balls to create a 28-run partnership for the fourth wicket after their team suffered an early collapse.
The middle overs saw Santner and all-rounder James Neesham launch another attack which resulted in another team collapse. South Africa eventually folded for 107 in just 15.3 overs. Linde provided the only bright moment for the visitors, smashing a quick 33 off just 12 balls.
New Zealand's bowlers performed strongly during the match. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson cleaned up the lower order with three wickets, while Sears finished with excellent figures of 3-14 after claiming two late scalps. Santner also impressed with 2-19, while McConchie and Neesham grabbed a wicket each during their combined three-over spell.
BRIEF SCORES: New Zealand 175 for 6 (Conway 60, Clarkson 26*, Mulder 2-14) beat South Africa 107 (Linde 33, Sears 3-14, Ferguson 3-16) by 68 runs.
