Bowlers lead rout of South Africa as New Zealand surge to 2-1 lead

The Eden Park may carry a reputation for being a batter's paradise, but it was far from the case on Friday (March 20) as South Africa had no answers on a two-paced surface. After restricting the visitors to 136/9, New Zealand breezed through to a comfortable 8-wicket win to take a 2-1 lead in the 5-match rubber.

Having opted to field first, New Zealand dictated terms from the outset with Lockie Ferguson dismissing Wiaan Mulder for a four-ball duck. Connor Esterhuizen took on Kyle Jamieson for a six and two fours in the third over but once Mitchell Santner brought himself on, things went haywire for South Africa. The New Zealand skipper induced a miscued hit off Esterhuizen for his first wicket, while getting the ball to stop and turn. Ben Sears' velocity proved too hot to handle as well, with Tony de Zorzi falling in the final Powerplay over.

Santner swiftly removed Jason Smith for the third time in as many games this series before Rubin Hermann dragged a Cole McConchie delivery onto his stumps as South Africa were reeling at 46/5. Dian Forrester briefly flexed his muscles before picking out the fielder at point, aptly suggestive of an evening where everything would go right for New Zealand. Gerald Coetzee and George Linde too struck a few boundaries to take South Africa past the 100-run mark, but Jamieson's change-ups accounted for both their wickets in the 15th over.

South Africa looked all but certain to be bowled out but Nqobani Mokoena dragged things forward. He got off the mark with a six before striking a couple more - including one off the last ball of the innings - to remain unbeaten on 26 to save South Africa the blushes.

A score of 136 was never going to be enough though - not least with Devon Conway and Tom Latham getting the hosts off to a brisk start. The South African pacers did themselves little help with their lines, spearing a considerable few deliveries onto the pads as the openers duly cashed in, with a 21-run over off Lutho Sipamla proving to be the highlight. Coetzee tied Latham down in the final Powerplay over, conceding a lone run, but it did little to overturn South Africa's fortunes.

While Latham top-scored with an unbeaten 63 off 55 balls, Conway ramped up the pace after a sluggish start. Both batters found the fence regularly with their 96-run stand coming to an end in the 11th over as Keshav Maharaj had Conway holing out to deep mid-wicket for 39. Tim Robinson then struck two boundaries in his run-a-ball 17 but was given out LBW with the scores tied. Nick Kelly then quietly sealed the deal with a single as New Zealand cantered home with 22 deliveries to spare. Ferguson, who returned miserly figures of 1/9 off his four overs, was adjudged the Player of the Match.

With consecutive wins and momentum on their side, the hosts will look to wrap up the series in the 4th T20I in Wellington on Sunday. They will have to do so without Ferguson, Conway and Santner, who have all been given a break, with Latham taking over the captaincy reins.

Brief Scores: South Africa 136/9 in 20 overs (Nqobani Mokoena 26*, Mitchell Santner 2-21, Ben Sears 2-27, Lockie Ferguson 1-9) lost to New Zealand 137/2 in 16.2 overs (Tom Latham 63*, Devon Conway 39, Lutho Sipamla 1-26) by 8 wickets