Illustrated Story

All-round New Zealand muzzle South Africa

How New Zealand crafted a 32-run win to square the T20I series

ESPNcricinfo staff
After New Zealand elected to bat, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson got their team off to a rapid start, crossing 50 in the Powerplay  AFP
South Africa's first breakthrough came in the sixth over when Kagiso Rabada dismissed Williamson for a 17-ball 25  Getty Images
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The home side struck again three overs later when legspinner Eddie Leie removed Tom Latham to reduce New Zealand to 70 for 2  AFP
Guptill, however, kept going and brought up his sixth T20I half-century in 30 balls  Getty Images
But after Guptill was dismissed for a 35-ball 60 in the 12th over, the visitors seemed to lose their way. James Neesham and Colin Munro chipped in with handy cameos, but Rabada came back in the 19th over to dismiss them both and finish with 3 for 30. South Africa gave away only 12 runs in the last two overs as New Zealand finished with 177 for 7  AFP
South Africa's chase was dealt early blows when Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne dismissed openers Morne van Vyk and Hashim Amla in the third and fourth overs respectively  AFP
As usual AB de Villiers began aggressively, launching a few big hits  AFP
He was, however, sent back by Nathan McCullum in the seventh over, James Neesham taking a well-judged catch  Associated Press
First Rilee Rossouw and then Farhaan Behardien, who made 36 off 27 balls, played useful hands, but New Zealand's sharpness with the ball and in the field resulted in the home side falling 32 runs short of the target. Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum and Ish Sodhi took two wickets apiece  AFP
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