Devon Conway of New Zealand (Getty Images) Devon Conway hit a composed half-century before a clinical bowling display propelled New Zealand to a dominant 68-run win over South Africa in the second T20I at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Tuesday, leveling the five-match series 1-1.After being sent in to bat, New Zealand posted a competitive 175/6, anchored by Conway’s 60 off 49 balls. The left-hander, who has had a quiet World T20 campaign, took advantage of his opportunities with a controlled knock with five fours and two sixes. “It’s been a very quiet couple of months … it’s nice to come back and contribute,” Conway said after the game.Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd T20INew Zealand got off to a flying start, scoring 43 for no loss in the powerplay, with Conway and Tom Latham setting the tone. However, it was difficult for the home side to accelerate in the middle overs as the pitch slowed down and began to be played at two paces. Contributions from Nick Kelly (21) and Mitchell Santner (20) kept the scoreboard ticking over before Josh Clarkson’s late success smashed 26 off just nine balls to add to the tally.
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South Africa fight in pursuitIn response, South Africa never got going and were bowled out for just 107 in 15.3 overs. The chase unraveled early at 31/3 and despite a brief counter from George Linde who top scored with a quickfire 33, the visitors crumbled under constant pressure.The pace duo of Ben Sears (3/14) and Lockie Ferguson (3/16) were excellent and took advantage of the variable bounce and pace on offer. All 10 of South Africa’s wickets came on catches, underscoring the effectiveness of New Zealand’s disciplined bowling.South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj admitted that his side had misunderstood the conditions. “We thought the dew would play a part but the wicket got worse. New Zealand bowled really well and suffocated us early on,” he said.The result comes after South Africa’s seven-wicket win in the series opener and keeps the competition in good shape. With both sides fielding relatively inexperienced squads after the T20 World Cup, the series offered an opportunity for rookies to step up.The third T20I will be played in Auckland on Friday.
