New Zealand’s men’s cricket team took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series against South Africa with an eight-wicket win at Eden Park.
Chasing 137, New Zealand reached 137 for 2, with Tom Latham scoring 63* and Devon Conway contributing 39 in an opening stand of 96 runs. The target was achieved with 22 balls to spare.
South Africa struggled to 136 for 9, with only Nqobani Mokoena (26*) and George Linde scoring more than 20. New Zealand spinners and Lockie Ferguson’s brilliant bowling restricted the visitors. Ferguson finished with figures of 4-0-9-1, one of the most economical in men’s T20Is at Eden Park. Mitchell Santner also played a key role with the ball, taking three crucial wickets and putting South Africa on the back foot early in the innings.
In his final match of the series, Santner dismissed Wiaan Mulder for a duck, Connor Esterhuizen at No.3, and Jason Smith, marking the third time he had dismissed Smith in three games. Ben Sears also contributed by removing de Zorzi.
Mokoena’s late batting efforts gave South Africa some respectability, hitting two sixes and a four in the final over. Despite his efforts, South Africa were 46 for 5 by the 8th over and could not challenge New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Latham, playing his first T20 in nearly three years, scored his fourth T20 half-century in 45 balls. He dominated the scoring behind square, hitting five fours and one six. Latham is set to take over the captaincy from Santner for the remaining matches.
