New Zealand snatched defeat from the jaws of a win in the third and the final T20I of the series against South Africa at the Eden Park in Auckland. With this win, South Africa won the T20I series 2-1.
South Africa Score Stunning Win Over New Zealand In Auckland T20I
South Africa were able to grasp an improbable win against New Zealand in the third T20I at Auckland thanks to Johan Botha’s superb spell of bowling.
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The hosts, Kiwis were left to chase 166 for a win in the third T20I and seemed to have gotten themselves into a position of great strength at 112/2 in the 12th over. Despite wickets of captain Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson, New Zealand needed only 24 runs from the remaining 28 balls with six wickets standing – a stroll in the park by any stretch.
Then Jesse Ryder, who had been batting rather well, patted out four balls from Botha in the 17th over while Morne Morkel’s 18th over cost only five runs. This meant that New Zealand still were very much on top with only 10 required from two overs.
It was the 19th over that turned things around as Botha gave away only three runs off it pushing the game into the last over with New Zealand needing seven.
Marchant de Lange conceded a single off the first ball, and off the next four, got two wickets and sent down two other dot balls. This left New Zealand with the nearly improbable task of scoring six runs. The bowler then sent down a no-ball off which James Franklin lost his strike and Tim Southee failed to get the required four runs off the last ball to go down in a stunning choke.
South Africa’s 165 was based on Hashim Amla’s 33 at the top and JP Duminy’s 38 in the middle of the innings. Botha’s 2/20 in four overs won him the man of the match award.
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