NZ vs SA Highlights, 3rd T20I: New Zealand crush South Africa by 8 wickets, lead series 2-1
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 20, 2026, 15:11:27 IST
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NZ vs SA Highlights, 3rd T20I: New Zealand crush South Africa by 8 wickets, lead series 2-1

New Zealand vs South Africa Live Score, 3rd T20I: A clinical bowling performance helped New Zealand restrict South Africa to a below-par total, despite a late cameo from Mokeana.

After being sent in to bat, South Africa never quite found their rhythm, with wickets falling at regular intervals and partnerships proving hard to come by.

Interestingly, a 10th-wicket stand of 24 runs turned out to be the second-highest partnership of the innings, underlining their struggles. Mokeana’s unbeaten 26 was the top score, as seven batters reached double figures without converting their starts.

New Zealand were sharp in all departments, combining disciplined bowling with outstanding ground fielding and catching.

At the innings break, Lockie Ferguson acknowledged the tricky nature of the drop-in surface, noting the extra pace and bounce that made strokeplay difficult early on. He also stressed the importance of adapting to varying conditions, a key focus for the side.

With a modest target ahead and conditions expected to ease slightly for batting, New Zealand will back themselves to chase it down and move 2-1 ahead in the series.
14:25 (IST) Mar 20
4
Overs10.1
Score89 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, FOUR! Put away! Across off, a bit too short, Conway goes deep in the crease and hits it past extra cover for a four.

14:24 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 10 overs 85 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
100400
  • Tom Latham 43 (39)
  • Devon Conway 30 (21)
Wiaan Mulder1-0-5-0
0
Overs9.6
Score85 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tom Latham, Play and a miss! Full and wide on off, Latham pushes away from his body and is lucky not to nick this one behind.

14:23 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs9.5
Score85 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tom Latham, Did that carry? Pace on, full and attacking the front pad, Latham brings his bat out in front and looks to work it down the ground. He chips it back towards Mulder, who gets low but the ball drops short.

14:22 (IST) Mar 20
4
Overs9.4
Score85 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tom Latham, FOUR! Gets it through! Off-cutter, on a short of a good length, outside off. Latham climbs into it. He arches back and slaps it past the diving Tony de Zorzi at backward point for a boundary.

14:22 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs9.3
Score81 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tom Latham, From around the wicket, takes pace off, on a good length, outside off. Latham looks to run it down but misses.

14:21 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs9.2
Score81 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Tom Latham, Beaten! Full and across off, Latham goes for an expansive drive and is beaten on the outside edge.

14:19 (IST) Mar 20

DRINKS BREAK! There was a bit of delay from the grounds men in getting the sawdust, and the umpires called for Drinks. New Zealand are cruising towards the win here and Devon Conway and Tom Latham have been flawless so far. They just need 56 from 65 balls now and it should be easy going from here on. South Africa desperately need a miracle to pull things from here on. Let's see how it pans out...

14:17 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs9.1
Score81 - 0

Wiaan Mulder to Devon Conway, On a back of a length, outside off. Conway jumps out of the crease and slaps it to deep cover. They cross.

14:17 (IST) Mar 20

Another successful over for the Kiwis. Wiaan Mulder comes into the attack.

14:16 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 9 overs 80 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
311004
  • Tom Latham 39 (34)
  • Devon Conway 29 (20)
George Linde1-0-9-0
4
Overs8.6
Score80 - 0

George Linde to Tom Latham, FOUR! Nicely done! Fractionally short, a hint of turn, on middle and leg. Tom Latham is quick to pick up the length and goes on the back foot in a flash. He pulls it hard and wide of the man at deep square to his left for a boundary. 57 more needed from 66 balls for New Zealand.

14:15 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs8.5
Score76 - 0

George Linde to Tom Latham, Drags the length back a bit, on off. Latham presses back and taps it back to Linde.

14:15 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs8.4
Score76 - 0

George Linde to Tom Latham, Fuller and outside off, Tom gets down and across the stumps for the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

14:14 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs8.3
Score76 - 0

George Linde to Devon Conway, Flat and short, on middle. Conway nurdles it behind square leg for a single.

14:14 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs8.2
Score75 - 0

George Linde to Tom Latham, Short and across off, guided wide of short third for a single.

14:12 (IST) Mar 20
3
Overs8.1
Score74 - 0

George Linde to Devon Conway, A run saved! Short and pushed through, around leg. Conway brings out the reverse and gets on top of the bounce to hit it all along the ground behind point. Dian Forrester runs across to his right in the deep and dives to push the ball away from the fence. It nearly trickles back into the ropes before Nqobani Mokoena gets to the ball and flicks it away. It did look like the ball had touched the boundary cushions first, and then Mokoena flicked it away, but the third umpire saw it as a clean effort. Three runs taken.

14:10 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 8 overs 71 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
040116
  • Tom Latham 34 (30)
  • Devon Conway 25 (18)
Nqobani Mokoena2-0-22-0
6
Overs7.6
Score71 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, SIX! A maximum off the final ball yet again. Short in length, on the hips. Latham swivels and pulls it behind square on the leg side for half-a-dozen. 12 runs off the over.

14:10 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs7.5
Score65 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Devon Conway, Pushes it full and around off, Conway knocks it through covers for a single.

14:09 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs7.4
Score64 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, DROPPED! Should have been taken! Slants in a length delivery, around leg from over the wicket. Latham heaves but without much power. Dian Forrester runs in from deep mid-wicket and slides but fails to hold on. 

14:08 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs7.3
Score63 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, On a nagging length, outside off. Latham plays with an angled bat behind point.

14:08 (IST) Mar 20
4
Overs7.2
Score63 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, FOUR! Crunched! Nqobani Mokoena pitches it up, around off. Latham half-presses and punches it to the right of short cover. Past the man inside the ring and beats the dive from the fielder in the deep as well. 

14:07 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs7.1
Score59 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, On a good length and around off. Latham drops it to point.

14:06 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 7 overs 59 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
112016
  • Devon Conway 24 (17)
  • Tom Latham 23 (25)
Keshav Maharaj1-0-11-0
6
Overs6.6
Score59 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, SIX! That has gone into the vacant stand. In the slot, tossed up, fuller and on middle. Conway gets on his knee and slogs it high over mid-wicket for a biggie. That last ball ruins the over. 11 runs off it. 

14:06 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs6.5
Score53 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, 'Catch it' is the call, it lands on a bounce. Keshav Maharaj loops in a fuller delivery on leg. Latham sweeps but gets a top edge to deep square leg. The man runs in and picks up on a bounce. They cross.

14:05 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs6.4
Score52 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Slower in the air, flat and around off. Latham goes back and keeps it out on the off side.

14:05 (IST) Mar 20
2
Overs6.3
Score52 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, A bit too full and on middle and leg. Latham sweeps it to deep square leg. The fielder runs to his left and dives to save a couple of runs. Brilliant fielding.

14:05 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs6.2
Score50 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Devon Conway, Serves it on a length and on the pads. Conway tucks it to square leg and rotates the strike. 50 is up for New Zealand.

14:04 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs6.1
Score49 - 0

Keshav Maharaj to Tom Latham, Tossed up, full and on middle. Latham nudges it to long on for a single.

14:03 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 6 overs 48 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
000001
  • Tom Latham 19 (21)
  • Devon Conway 17 (15)
Gerald Coetzee3-0-9-0
1
Overs5.6
Score48 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Excellent over from Gerald Coetzee. A searing yorker with a little bit of inward shape, on leg. Latham tickles it away to fine leg for a single. Good final over of the Powerplay but New Zealand stay on track with 48 runs off the six overs.

14:02 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs5.5
Score47 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Five dots now. Attacking the stumps with a fuller delivery. Tom clips it to mid-wicket.

14:01 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs5.4
Score47 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Four dots in a row. This is just short. Gerald Coetzee bowls a leg-cutter across the batter, giving width to the batter. Latham leans to drive it away but gets a thick outside edge which lands in front of the diving keeper.

14:01 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs5.3
Score47 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Goes very full, around off. Latham defends with a straight bat to cover. 

14:00 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs5.2
Score47 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, At 147.3 kph! Shorter delivery, angled well away from the batter. Latham flashes his blade and misses.

13:59 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs5.1
Score47 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Tom Latham, Serves it full and on middle, Latham eases it back to Gerald Coetzee, who bends and stops with his left hand. 

13:58 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 5 overs 47 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
641604
  • Devon Conway 17 (15)
  • Tom Latham 18 (15)
Lutho Sipamla2-0-25-0
4
Overs4.6
Score47 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Devon Conway, FOUR! Dispatched. 21 runs off the over. Lutho Sipamla bowls short and around off, lands at a good height for Conway, who pulls it across his eyeline and places it to the deep mid-wicket fence. 

13:57 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs4.5
Score43 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Devon Conway, Touch too full and shaping back in late, around off. Conway presses-forward to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. A huge shout for LBW, turned down.

13:55 (IST) Mar 20
6
Overs4.4
Score43 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Devon Conway, SIX! MORE RUNS! Back of a length, around off. Conway stands back and pulls it handsomely over mid-wicket. It flies towards the ropes and lands on the cushion. The third umpire has a quick look at a couple of replays. Six it is.

13:54 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs4.3
Score37 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Tom Latham, Back of a length, outside off. Latham bends his back and carves it away to third man. Nqobani Mokoena reverse cups on a bounce. He loses his footing and the ball almost rolls over into the fence. A single. 

13:53 (IST) Mar 20
4
Overs4.2
Score36 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Tom Latham, FOUR! And again! Lutho Sipamla slips one onto the pads, too straight on a length. Latham helps it away well past the keeper and to the fine leg fence. Pressure on the young, Lutho. 

13:53 (IST) Mar 20
6
Overs4.1
Score32 - 0

Lutho Sipamla to Tom Latham, SIX! Easy pickings. Too straight, full and on the pads. Latham shows good wrist work as he flicks it over square leg, just over the fence for a six.

13:52 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 4 overs 26 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
04122(2WD)14(4LB)
  • Devon Conway 7 (12)
  • Tom Latham 7 (12)
Nqobani Mokoena1-0-10-0
4lb
Overs3.6
Score26 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Devon Conway, FOUR LEG BYES! That's a poor delivery! Nqobani Mokoena errs in his line. Down the leg side, Devon Conway tries to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and races away to the fence at fine leg. 

13:51 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs3.5
Score22 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Hard length, just outside off, Tom Latham steers it through backward point for a single.

13:50 (IST) Mar 20
2wd
Overs3.5
Score21 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Devon Conway, Two wides! Wayward, down leg, Devon Conway leaves. The keeper manages to get his glove on it as the ball rolls towards fine leg. The batters collect a run.

13:50 (IST) Mar 20
2
Overs3.4
Score19 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Devon Conway, Keeps it on a length, on leg, Devon Conway flicks it over mid-wicket for a brace.

13:48 (IST) Mar 20

Halt! Tom Latham has copped a blow on the left thumb. The physio is out to have a look. Latham is ready to continue.

13:47 (IST) Mar 20
1
Overs3.3
Score17 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Another cheeky shot but just for a single. Length, on off, Tom Latham attempts the ramp but the ball gets big on him. It lobs off the glove and goes over the slip fielder before going down to third man for a single.

13:46 (IST) Mar 20
4
Overs3.2
Score16 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, FOUR! Cheeky! Good length, on off, Tom Latham moves to his left and ramps it over short fine leg for a boundary. 

13:46 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs3.1
Score12 - 0

Nqobani Mokoena to Tom Latham, Hard length, outside off, Tom Latham knocks it to the fielder at mid off.

13:45 (IST) Mar 20
Score after 3 overs 12 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
0015(5WD)1(1WD)000
  • Devon Conway 5 (10)
  • Tom Latham 1 (8)
Gerald Coetzee2-0-8-0
0
Overs2.6
Score12 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, A yorker, outside off, Devon Conway looks to drive it but misses. A good over barring the five wides. New Zealand are 12 for no loss after 3 overs.

13:44 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs2.5
Score12 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, Nagging length, outside off, Devon Conway looks to drive it but miscues it back to the bowler.

13:43 (IST) Mar 20
0
Overs2.4
Score12 - 0

Gerald Coetzee to Devon Conway, Good length, on middle and leg, Devon Conway blocks it back to the bowler.

174 More Updates
New Zealand vs South Africa Live Score, 3rd T20I: New Zealand will be pleased with their bowling effort after restricting South Africa to an underwhelming total despite a late flourish from Mokeana.

Put in to bat, South Africa struggled for momentum from the outset, losing wickets at regular intervals and failing to build meaningful partnerships. A late 10th-wicket stand of 24 runs pushed them past the 130-mark, with Mokeana’s unbeaten 26 — the highest individual score of the innings — offering some resistance.

New Zealand’s disciplined bowling was backed by sharp fielding and excellent catching throughout the innings.

Speaking at the break, Lockie Ferguson highlighted the challenging nature of the surface but praised his team’s adaptability and execution. With conditions still offering some assistance to bowlers early on, New Zealand will be confident of chasing down the target and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.