Advantage New Zealand.
Less than a week after being bowled out for 91 to go 1-0 down in the best-of-five series against South Africa, the Black Caps returned fire to defeat the Proteas by eight wickets at Eden Park, and claim a 2-1 lead with two to play.
On Auckland’s trademark short boundaries, captain Mitchell Santner’s decision to field was backed up by his bowlers, in restricting the Proteas to 136-9, before chasing it down with 22 balls to spare.
All six of New Zealand’s bowlers took a wicket, led again by Santner (2-21) and Ben Sears (2-27), while Lockie Ferguson was outstanding to claim 1-9 from his four-over spell.
In reply, the Black Caps’ chase was built on the opening stand, as Tom Latham and Devon Conway (39) ticked off more than half of the target with 96 in 66 balls for the first wicket.
While not a T20 regular, Latham played the situation to perfection, and walked off unbeaten with 63 from 55 balls, just shy of a new career-high score in the shortest format.
That display sent Kiwi fans home with more than enough value for their money, after also seeing the White Ferns take a 2-1 lead over the same opponent nation just hours earlier.
The Black Caps can claim the series as early as Sunday, when both sides meet in Wellington. However, they’ll be without Santner, Ferguson and Conway, who are being rested before franchise commitments, as Latham assumes the captaincy.
From the moment Ferguson had Wiaan Mulder (0) caught at short cover in his first over, the Black Caps bowlers made sure the batters wouldn’t be tasked with a chase out of reach.
New Zealand struck twice more inside the power play, Santner and Sears removing Connor Estherhuizen (15) and Tony de Zorzi (15) as the Proteas managed 41-3 inside the fielding restrictions.
Once those restrictions were lifted, though, South Africa’s middle order fell like a house of cards. Santner and Cole McConchie (1-14) each struck before halfway, before Jimmy Neesham removed Dian Forrester to leave the Proteas out of specialist batters at 68-6.
A 34-run partnership between George Linde (23) and Gerald Coetzee (16) at least took South Africa over 100, only for both to fall to Kyle Jamieson (2-42) and effectively end any hopes of a defendable total.
No 10 Nqobani Mokoena made sure New Zealand would need more than a run a ball, with 26 not out – including three sixes – but a target of 137 at Eden Park was always going to be difficult to defend.
With such a small total to reach, the Black Caps openers could afford to take things slowly, and scored just 26 off the first four overs. But after Latham was given a scare by a hit to the finger from Mokoena, he and Conway found their rhythm, and raised their 50-stand in 38 balls.
On 27, Latham was given a life when he was dropped at deep midwicket by Forrester, and responded with six over fine leg to rub salt into the wound. At the other end, Linde’s introduction was met by a Conway reverse sweep, as Eden Park was treated to his and Latham’s proficiency against spin.
As the required run rate trickled to less than a run a ball, Latham was dropped again, this time on 43 by Mulder off his own bowling, but lost Conway when he was caught in the deep by Rubin Hermann off Maharaj.
Latham pressed on and raised his half-century from 45 balls in the 13th over with a sweep off Maharaj, having hit six fours and two sixes.
Needing 19 runs off the final six overs, New Zealand were never going to be in any danger of defeat, as Tim Robinson fell LBW for 17 with scores level. But with one run to score, and 23 deliveries to do it, Nick Kelly scrambled home to complete the job.
South Africa 136-9 (Mokoena 26 not out; Santner 2-21, Sears 2-27, Jamieson 2-42)
New Zealand 137-2 (Latham 63 not out; Sipamla 1-26)
New Zealand win by eight wickets
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.