- By Namrata Vijay
- Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
NZ vs SA 3rd T20I: New Zealand's star wicket-keeper batter smashed an unbeaten fifty, and a brilliant bowling effort helped the team defeat South Africa by eight wickets during the third T20I in Auckland on Friday, as the hosts are currently leading the five-match T20I series by 2-1. The Kiwis chased the target of 137 runs in just 16.2 overs, with 22 balls remaining, and it was also their biggest win in this format against South Africa in their backyard.
This win surpassed their previous victory against South Africa on their home soil, when they won by six wickets in Wellington way back in 2012, chasing the target with four balls remaining. Moreover, it was their biggest T20I win against South Africa since the semifinal of the recently concluded mega event in Kolkata, where they won with 43 balls remaining.
PROTEAS HUFF AND PUFF
The South African batters never really got going when Wiaan Mulder was dismissed for a duck during the second over. Lockie Ferguson had laid the foundation by registering brilliant figures of 4-0-9-1, during which he bowled 17 dot balls and piled pressure on the visitors. Mitchell Santner took two wickets and conceded 21 runs, whereas Ben Sears registered figures of 27/2 and helped South Africa go from 36/2 to 46/5 after the eighth over.
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Connor Esteheuizen's gritty knock of 15 runs and Jason Smith's quickfire knock of 10 runs provided a late surge, but neither could stay at the crease for long to anchor the innings. George Linde scored 23 runs off 19 balls, and Nqobani Mokoena scored 26 runs off 20 balls, helping the Proteas post a target of 136/9. Kyle Jamieson took the last two wickets to ensure the Proteas couldn't post a big target.
LATHAM TAKES KIWIS HOME
The hosts' chase looked more stable. Devon Conway gave the team a flying start by scoring 39 runs off 26 balls. He also stitched a brilliant partnership of 96 runs for the first wicket with Latham. Latham brought up his half-century off 45 balls. After Conway's dismissal during the 11th over, the result was almost decided.
Latham, who was batting calmly, took the team across the line by scoring an unbeaten knock of 63 runs off 55 balls, in which he had seven fours and two sixes. Tim Robinson also made significant contributions by scoring 16 runs, but the hosts were on the verge of victory. Latham stayed till the end and helped the team win the match dominatingly.
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Brief Scores
South Africa: 136/9 in 20 overs. Nqobani Mokoena (26*), George Linde (23); Mitchell Santner (2/21), Ben Sears (2/27)
New Zealand: 137/2 in 16.2 overs. Tom Latham (63*), Devon Conway (39); Lutho Sipamla (1/26), Keshav Maharaj (1/30)
Result: New Zealand beat South Africa by 8 wickets