South Africa stuns New Zealand by three runs to win the Twenty20 series 2-1
New Zealand was stunned by South Africa, who managed to sneak a victory by just three runs, when the match was looking totally in control of New Zealand. Thanks to the controlled bowling by Morne Morkel, Johan Botha and Merchant de Lange South Africa gave just 13 runs from the final four overs, and pulled off the victory to win the T20I series 2-1, after winning the second and third matches. New Zealand won the toss and chose to field, and the hero of second ODI Richard Levi was caught by Nicol off Franklin in the third over itself, but the entire team paced up well although the breakthroughs by New Zealand. Captain AB de Villiers and JP Duminy 61 runs in 35 balls for the 5th wicket and South Africa reached 165 runs in 20 overs, losing 7 wickets. Tim Southee and Rob Nicol took two wickets each, and were economical with 42 runs given in the seven overs they bowled.
The figues of 4-0-20-2 by Johan Botha helped SA win the game
New Zealand got a perfect start, blasting off to the score of 65 runs in just six overs before they lost Nicol and soon Martin Guptill too fell, leaving New Zealand with two new batsmen on the ground. Jesse Ryder stayed on the crease for long, but couldn’t get a support from the other end where Brendon McCullum, Williamson and Franklin couldn’t do more than 18, 6 and 9 runs respectively. New Zealand were needing 25 runs from 30 balls, and had seven wickets in hand, when Morne Morkel sent Williamson back to the pavilion, and Johan Botha took out the pace from the batting side, giving just two runs in his over. Morne Morkel gave just five from his next over, and that included a dropped catch by Ontong, or Ryder would have gone already. Botha played another great over and picked out Ryder which kept New Zealand still hunting for runs, needing seven from the last over.
Merchant de Lange who was expensive in the beginning and gave 33 from the three overs, came in to take out McCullum and Bracewell in the third and fifth deliveries, and after a no-ball along with a single, Southee was on strike on the last ball and needing four runs to win. Lange bowled a straight one and Southee misses it, collected by the captain and wicket-keeper de Villiers. South Africa pulled out a stunner, with Johan Botha being the Man of the Match for the splendid bowling performance.
South Africa moves up to the 2nd spot in the T20 rankings, and New Zealand drops to the 4th place.
South Africa 165 for 7 (Duminy 38, Nicol 2-20) beat New Zealand 162 for 7 (Ryder 52, Botha 2-20) by three runs
- New Zealand v South Africa, 3rd T20, Auckland
- South Africa 165/7 (20/20 ov)
- New Zealand 162/7 (20.0/20 ov)
- South Africa won by 3 runs
- Man of the Match – Johan Botha (South Africa)
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