By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket victory over depleted South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in their five-match Twenty20 International series.
Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to field, putting the Proteas in on a wicket sporting more grass than usual.
The decision was vindicated during a fruitful powerplay for the hosts as they snared three wickets for just 41 runs at a ground that usually sees teams scoring at more than 10 an over.
Lockie Ferguson bowled with pace and accuracy to get Wiaan Mulder for a duck, before Santner removed Connor Esterhuizen and Ben Sears had Tony de Zorzi.
Two more wickets fell in the three overs after the powerplay as South Africa added just nine further runs, Jason Smith and Rubin Hermann departing tamely.
Teenage fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena was the pick of the visiting batsman with 26 from 20 balls, hitting three massive sixes in the closing overs including dispatching Kyle Jamieson to the longest boundary from the first ball he faced.
Sears, Santner and Jamieson took two wickets each, while Ferguson had one wicket from his stingy spell.
New Zealand started slowly in response, with Devon Conway and Tom Latham playing with caution as South Africa’s openers found swing and seam with the new ball.
Both batsmen cut loose in the fourth over, hitting Lutho Sipamla for 21 runs in the over as the batting pair both hit sixes.
The pair combined for a 96-run opening stand before Conway fell for a 26-ball 39 at the end of the 11th over.
The hosts now enjoy a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after South Africa won the first game at Mount Maunganui by seven-wickets and the home side bounced back with a 68-run victory in Hamilton on Tuesday. The fourth and fifth matches take place in Wellington and Christchurch on Sunday.
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham (wkt), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Micthell Santner (captain), Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson.
South Africa: Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen (wkt), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Lutho Sipamla.