Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner Decimate South Africa As New Zealand Level T20I Series

New Zealand win second T20I to level five-match series 1-1 [Source: @BLACKCAPS/x]

New Zealand steamrolled South Africa in the second T20I in Hamilton to bring the five-match series to levelling terms. Senior men Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner came the fore for the ‘Black Caps’ after their demoralizing defeat in Mount Maunganui last weekend. 

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights from the second T20I of the five-match series between New Zealand and South Africa, as it panned out at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday, March 17.

Devon Conway, Clarkson bolt New Zealand to 175

Being put into bat first, Devon Conway got New Zealand off to a flier alongside opening partner Tom Latham. Racing to 48-0 in just 6.2 overs, Latham himself contributed just 11 runs from 10 balls before getting deceived by Keshav Maharaj. Tom Robinson at number three got knocked over for just a single by George Linde as the hosts slipped to 55-2 in 7.2 overs.

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Conway ended up compiling 60 runs from just 49 balls to top-score in the innings, clattering five boundaries and two huge sixes in the process. He shared a quick 37-run partnership with Nick Kelly for the third wicket, who himself slapped a blistering 12-ball 21 in the middle order.

Another 20 from captain Mitchell Santner, and late unbeaten cameos from Cole McConchie (18* off 12) and Josh Clarkson (26* off 9) eventually elevated the New Zealand total to a competitive 175-6 in 20 overs.

For South Africa, Wiaan Mulder picked up the important wickets of Nick Kelly and that of a well-set Conway to seize impressive figures of 2-14 in his two-over spell. His teammates George Linde (1-33), Keshav Maharaj (1-45), Ottneil Baartman (1-31) and new ball paceman Gerald Coetzee (1-28) also chipped in with a wicket each.

Santner, Ben Sears and Ferguson run through South Africa

South Africa raced to 29-0 around the five-over mark with both openers, Wiaan Mulder and Connor Esterhuizen still intact at the crease. Starting off with a flurry of boundaries, both Esterhuizen and Mulder were dismissed in quick succession by Ben Sears and Mitchell Santner respectively.

Tony de Zorzi at number three also managed just a single before Cole McConchie got the Proteas gasping for breath at 31-3. Rubin Hermann (19 off 12) and Jason Smith (12 off 13) led South Africa’s middle-order recovery, at least to some extent, with a brief 28-run stand for the fourth wicket after the early triple-wicket burst.

However, another middle-order blow against Mitchell Santner and all-rounder James Neesham ensured the Proteas suffered a dramatic late collapse to fold up for just 107 by 15.3 overs. George Linde himself bludgeoned 33 off those runs from just 12 balls to emerge as South Africa’s lone silver-lining in the innings.

For New Zealand, senior fast bowler Lockie Ferguson mopped up the visitor’s tail with a three-fer. Ben Sears also claimed two late wickets after his opening breakthrough to secure impressive figures of 3-14. Captain Santner also took two (2-19), and McConchie and Neesham chipped in with a wicket each in their combined three overs.

Series locked 1-1 as action shifts to Auckland

With New Zealand defeating South Africa by 68 runs, the hosts have now levelled the five-match T20I series 1-1. The two teams will now travel to Auckland for the all-important third T20I on March 20 later this week.

The match will be hosted by the Eden Park and the action will commence from 11:45 AM IST onwards.

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