NZ vs SA Highlights, 3rd T20I: New Zealand crush South Africa by 8 wickets, lead series 2-1

Time to sign off - Three games done, two more to go, and we are yet to see a close contest in this series. Let's hope the remaining two games deliver just that. The two teams will meet again on Sunday, 22nd March, in New Zealand's capital, Wellington. The fourth T20I will get underway at 6.15 am GMT. As always, you can join us early for the build-up. We look forward to your company then. It's goodbye for now.

Happy with the way the bowlers delivered - New Zealand's captain, Mitchell Santner says that the pitch was a bit different for the boys, but they enjoyed playing here. Adds that their plan was simple, just to bowl at the stumps. He says that Latham and Conway started brilliantly, and they had a perfect start. Mentions that the bowlers bowled really well in these conditions, and they will try and carry on with the same momentum and ends by saying that he is happy with the win.

Batting let them down - The skipper of South Africa, Keshav Maharaj says it was disappointing to lose so many wickets in the Powerplay and afterwards it was hard to come back. Adds that some lower-order hitting gave them some runs, but summarises that their batting in the first 10 overs put them on the back foot. Maharaj believes that they need to adapt quickly to the conditions. Mentions that they are a young side but feels they are still in a good position in the series and will try to come back stronger. On Nqobani Mokoena, Maharaj says he is still young and has a phenomenal future ahead.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - For his tidy spell with the ball, returning figures of 1 for 9 from his 4 overs, Lockie Ferguson wins the award. Ferguson says that it was a good day here in Auckland, and the crowd was great. Adds that the pitch was good and he got some extra pace. Lockie shares that he just bowled with great pace, and things worked out for him. He further says that he wanted more wickets, but it didn't happen, and he is happy with his figures. Ferguson ends by saying that it was a strong performance from the boys, and they will try to carry on with the same momentum.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Proteas held to 136 on a testing surface - After being asked to bat first, South Africa found it tough to cope with the pace and bounce of this drop-in surface, while the spinners also made life difficult with the turn and hold on offer. After being reduced to 68/6, a couple of partnerships did develop, but the home side managed to cut them short each time. A handy 26-run knock from Nqobani Mokoena gave the bowlers something to bowl at. All 6 bowling options used picked up at least a wicket, and apart from Kyle Jamieson, everyone held their own.

Conway and Latham anchor a comfortable chase - In pursuit of 137, Devon Conway and Tom Latham were in for a stern examination in the opening exchanges, but after the first three overs, the Proteas quicks went searching. That led to a few loose deliveries, which the two openers were quick to cash in on. Conway and Latham grew in confidence as the innings progressed, with Latham, who was dropped on 27, going on to bring up a fifty and see the chase through to the end.

Kiwis sail home in the City of Sails - After being stunned in the series opener, the Kiwis have fought back strongly with two convincing wins on the bounce to go 2-1 up. The bowlers set it up for them here in Auckland, and the openers saw off the early testing phase before taking control of the chase. A couple of disappointing showings with the bat for South Africa, something they will reflect on deeply.

Lutho Sipamla to Nick Kelly, That will do. Serves it full and on middle. Nick Kelly bunts it down to mid on for a quick single. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 8 WICKETS. They lead the five-match series 2-1.

Nick Kelly walks in next.

Lutho Sipamla to Tim Robinson, OUT! LBW! A huge appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. Tim Robinson reviews it. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows THREE REDS. New Zealand will have to wait a bit more. A good length delivery on middle and it nips in sharply. Tim Robinson hops to tuck it away but gets beaten on the inside edge. It was in line with the stumps. Tim Robinson took the review more in hope. Out it remains. A run is required.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Touch fuller and in line of the stumps. Latham drills it to the left of the bowler.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tim Robinson, Scores level! Shorter delivery on middle, climbs a bit. Tim Robinson tries to nudge it away but wears high on the pads. It rolls onto the off side for a leg bye.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tim Robinson, Bowls a bouncer, drifting on leg. Tim Robinson sways away and lets it go.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Hard length and on middle. Latham pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tim Robinson, Angles in a length ball onto the pads. Tim Robinson helps it down to fine leg for a single.

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, New Zealand are a boundary away! Short of a length, outside off. Latham guides it to third man for a single.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Serves it full and outside off. Tim Robinson hits it hard but straight to the man at mid off.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, FOUR! HIT AWAY! Touch too full, straight and on middle. Tim Robinson hammers it down past mid on for a boundary.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, NO BALL! Gerald Coetzee bowls a high full toss, shaping on leg. Tim Robinson gets down to evade but instead gets hit on the body. Too high and it's called a no ball for being above the waist. Free Hit to follow.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, FOUR! Just 10 runs needed now! Short of a good length on middle. Tim Robinson nicely pulls it late to deep square leg. Nqobani Mokoena dives to his left but to no avail. A boundary.

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, A good length delivery, outside off. Latham guides it to third man for one more.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Good stop! Touch fuller, outside off. Tim Robinson leans and crunches it to cover. The fielder dives to his right and gets both hands on it. A run.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, A low full toss, outside off. Tim Robinson punches it past short cover and wide of sweeper cover for a brace.

Gerald Coetzee to Tim Robinson, Wide! A slower one, down the leg side. Tim Robinson looks to flick it away but misses.

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Sways it down leg, Tim Robinson looks to slog it but the ball hits his pads and rolls towards fine leg. They collect a leg bye. 

George Linde to Tom Latham, Nice and full, on off, Tom Latham pushes it through mid on for another run.

George Linde to Tim Robinson, George Linde keeps it short, on leg, Tim Robinson knocks it down the ground for a single.

George Linde to Tom Latham, Quicker, on off, Tom Latham paddles it towards short fine leg for a run.

George Linde to Tom Latham, FOUR! Brilliant use of the feet! Tossed up, outside off, Tom Latham shimmies down the track and drills it to the right of the bowler for a boundary.

George Linde to Tom Latham, Turn and bounce, on off, Tom Latham tucks it to the fielder at mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj to Tim Robinson, Short, on off, Tim Robinson blocks it to the right of the bowler.

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Nice and full, on leg, Tom Latham sweeps it through backward square leg for a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Tim Robinson, Just short! Angles it on leg, Tim Robinson paddles it towards fine leg. The fielder makes a dive forward to take the catch but the ball lands just short. They cross.

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Short, on off, Tom Latham pulls it on the bounce towards the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Single taken.

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, FOUR! FIFTY up for Tom Latham! This has been a quality knock from a quality batter. Full, on middle and leg, Tom Latham gets low and sweeps it through square leg. The fielder dives to his right near the fence but fails to stop it.

Keshav Maharaj to Tim Robinson, Short ball, on middle and leg, Tim Robinson makes room and punches it wide of mid off for a single.

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Too straight, full and on the pads. Robinson sweeps it to deep fine leg and keeps the strike with a single. New Zealand need 35 more runs.

George Linde to Tom Latham, On a nagging length, on the off stump. Tom flat bats it to long on and gets to the other end.

George Linde to Tom Latham, Short and on off. Latham attempts the pull but ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

George Linde to Tom Latham, The 100 is up for New Zealand. Tossed up, across off. Latham fights the angle as he goes for the sweep to a ball leaving him. He fails to get on top of the bounce and a top edge is found. It goes wide of the man at short fine leg to his left for a couple of runs.

George Linde to Tim Robinson, Sliding in at the hips, Tim clips it through square leg for a single to get off the mark.

George Linde to Tom Latham, Not all that short, on middle. Latham goes on the back foot and shovels it behind square leg for a run.

Devon Conway departs. Tim Robinson walks in at number 3.

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, OUT! CAUGHT! Devon Conway holes out. Flighted delivery, on off. Devon Conway reaches out in front and goes for the slog sweep but the ball is not full enough for that shot. One hand comes off the bat handle and he hits it flat towards deep mid-wicket, where Rubin Hermann runs in off the ropes and bends to take a safe catch. The 96-run opening stand has been broken. New Zealand need 41 more runs.

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Sliding across, Latham lunges and dabs this full ball to backward point for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Wide! Down leg, on the shorter side. Latham walks inside the line but fails to get it away and falls over in the process.

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, A bit full, on middle. Conway pushes it to mid on for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, Tighter line, at the stumps, on a nagging length, Conway turns it to mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Too short and wide on off. Devon rocks on the back foot in a flash and slaps it down the ground to the left of the man at long off for four more.