Tom Latham’s unbeaten half-century and a collective bowling effort led New Zealand to an impressive eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, March 20, as the hosts surged to a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing a modest 137, New Zealand cruised home in just 16.2 overs, with 22 balls to spare, to record their biggest T20I win over the Proteas at home in terms of balls remaining.
Read the full article
New Zealand vs South Africa 3rd T20I Highlights
The win eclipsed their previous best against the Proteas on New Zealand soil, a six-wicket victory in Wellington in 2012 when they completed the chase with four balls to spare. New Zealand’s biggest T20I win overall over South Africa remains the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final in Kolkata, where they won by 43 deliveries.
PROTEAS HUFF AND PUFF
South Africa’s innings never gained sustained momentum after Wiaan Mulder fell for a duck in the second over. Lockie Ferguson set the tone with a brilliant spell of 4-0-9-1, bowling 17 runs and using the squeeze up front. Mitchell Santner claimed two wickets for 21 runs and Ben Sears returned two wickets for 27 as South Africa slumped from 36 for two to 46 for five by the end of the eighth over.
Connor Esterhuizen’s 15 and Jason Smith’s 10 offered brief sparks, but neither stayed long enough to turn the tide. George Linde took 23 off 19 and Nqobani Mokoena remained unbeaten on 26 off 20 to drag South Africa to 136 for nine, while two late wickets from Kyle Jamieson ensured the visitors never found the final surge.
LATHAM TAKES THE KIWIS HOME
New Zealand’s chase was much more assured. Devon Conway set the tone with a brisk 39 off 26, picking up the quicks and adding 96 for the opening wicket with Latham. Latham scored his fifty off 45 balls and also put on a 96-run stand for the opening wicket with Conway. When Conway fell in the 11th over after scoring 39 off 26, the game was effectively sealed.
Latham, calm as ever, led the rest of the chase with an unbeaten 63 off 55 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes. Tim Robinson chipped in with 17 before falling late but New Zealand were already cruising. Fittingly, Latham stayed until the end as the home side sealed a dominant, record-breaking win.
A brief score
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
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
20 March 2026 16:14 IST
Tune in
