3rd T20I: All-round NZ thrash SA to earn series lead
What's the story
In what can be called a convincing triumph, New Zealand thrashed South Africa in the third T20I at Eden Park, Auckland. A disciplined bowling display from the Kiwis restricted SA to 136/9 in the first innings. New Zealand chased down the target without any hassle thanks to openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham. With this, NZ are now 2-1 up in the five-T20I series.
1st innings
The surrender from South African batters
Such was the misery of SA batters as no one from the top six could touch the 20-run mark. Their top scorer was No. 10 batsman Nqobani Mokoena with an unbeaten 26 runs. Other contributions came from George Linde (23), Dian Forrester (17), Gerald Coetzee (16), and Connor Esterhuizen (15). Skipper Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Ben Sears claimed two wickets each.
Chase
Conway, Latham power the run chase
NZ's run chase was smooth to say the least, with Conway and Latham adding 96 runs for the opening wicket. While Conway perished for 39, his opening partner went on to hammer an unbeaten half-century (63*). Tim Robinson (a run-a-ball 17) also played a decent cameos as the hosts secured their eight-wicket win in just 16.2 overs.
Ferguson
Ferguson's spell restricts South Africa
Ferguson's bowling spell was a highlight of the match. He bowled four overs, conceding just nine runs and taking one wicket. This is now the second-most economical four-over spell in a men's T20I at Eden Park. Santner (3/21 in 3 overs), Jamieson (2/42 in 4 overs), and Sears (2/27 in 4 overs) also bowled well.
Latham
A T20I fifty after ages for Latham
Latham, who had not played a T20I in almost three years before this series, made an unbeaten 55-ball 63. He smoked seven fours and two sixes. His last T20I fifty came against Pakistan in April 2023. This was his fourth T20I fifty, which took him to 597 T20I runs at 27.13 (SR: 109.54). He now owns 96 T20I runs against SA at 24.
Conway
Another fine hand from Conway
Conway, who made a 49-ball 60 in the second game, made 39 off 26 balls in his latest outing (4 fours, 2 sixes). According to ESPNcricinfo, the Kiwi star has completed 1,839 runs from 69 T20Is at an average of 35.36 (50s: 13). 1,113 of his runs have come in home games at 44.52. Against SA, he has completed 175 runs at 29.16.