NZ vs SA

10:38 PM local time (3:08 PM IST): So that is all we have from Seddon Park, Hamilton. The series is locked 1-all. The 3rd game in the series, on Friday, is the center of attention now. It starts at 7:15 PM local time (1:45 PM IST) and the venue is Eden Park, Auckland. Do join us for that, as we find out who takes the lead again, in the 5-match series. For now, this is the pair of Sourabh and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand captain): "It was nice to get a win! I thought we were pretty good up front in the power play. Devon Conway hung in there and kept the scoreboard moving. The thing that we did well, was not throw it away with the bat at any stage. Then of course, came that impetus towards the end from Cole McConchie and Josh Clarkson, which pushed the total to par. We knew that dew can come in, so, the preparation was done accordingly. Also, we followed what South Africa did and hit our lengths to perfection. There was a bit of turn to make use of, which us spinners did. The bowling from the quicks was up to the mark, and so was our fielding. On the whole, we're happy to be in the position that we are right now." 

Keshav Maharaj (South Africa captain): "We bowled really well up until a point. We thought that dew will play a part, but, the wicket got worse. The batting has to get better. We need to pull our socks up in this department. The seam bowlers are doing their job, George Linde played well too, but, even after the positives, we need to get back to the drawing board and get ready for the next game. (On the crowd that turned up today) Great to see the kind of support for cricket here!" 

Devon Conway is the Player of the Match for his 60 runs off 49 balls, here is what he had to say:

(on his innings) For me, it is all about trying to build a partnershio. Try and lean on my partner till I feel good. In T20 cricket, it is all about pushing it one so for me trying to pull back and build up a partnership

(challenges from bowlers coming from both over and round the wicket) Seeing Coetzee coming from round the wicket was something new for me. You need to swing it from wide of the crease, think it is just for me but you have got to adapt to what they do

(coming into the T20 team) It has been quiet couple of months for me. Going to India for the World Cup and not playing in the 11 gave me a nice opportunity to put my feet up and watch the boys do their thing

(knowing a lot of the South African players) It is fun, played a lot with these guys growing up. Can't necessarilly hear what they say on the field but if they speak Afrikaans I can understand

10:21 PM local time (2:51 PM IST): New Zealand win by 68 runs with 27 balls to spare! 

Devon Conway 60 (49) | Lockie Ferguson - 3/16 (3.3)
George Linde 33 (12) | Wiaan Mulder - 2/14 (2)

Every wicket in the innings was a catch. 15 times in T20Is, this has happened. But what has also happened, is that New Zealand have been way superior with the ball! Way, way superior! 

South Africa's batting wasn't at its best in the previous game. It was even worse tonight, with the target being a challenging one. With the likes of Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson bowling, things got even more difficult for an inexperienced Proteas batting line-up. 

Runs weren't coming fluently, right from the start. Even though there was dew on the ground, the batting did not quite come to grips with the pace and bounce of the surface. 

Only Rubin Hermann and Linde found a way to get going, but the former played a shot too many and got holed out. The latter, batting at number 7, simply ran out of partners. 

Dian Forrester tried to hang around and then accelerate, but, he too couldn't play the right shot under pressure. 

The ball seamed, the ball turned, the ball held in the pitch. But, most importantly, the bowlers got it to talk, and how! Ben Sears and Ferguson took 3 wickets each, while Santner picked up a couple as well. 

The fielding, was leaps and bounds better in the 2nd innings, in comparison with the 1st. That always makes a difference, particularly in this format of the game. 

15.3 Lockie Ferguson to George Linde, ALL OVER! Game, set and match for New Zealand who win by 68 runs and level the 5-match series at 1-1. Ferguson comes back in style, gets the last laugh on Linde by cramping him up with a back of a length delivery. Linde was trying to heave it away but could only hit it as far as long-on who completed a safe catch and sealed the win for the hosts

15.2 Lockie Ferguson to George Linde, FOUR MORE, smashed through the covers, is Linde playing on a different surface here? Too full from Ferguson from round the wicket, at the off stump, Linde drilled it in between cover and mid-off and that sped away to the fence

15.1 Lockie Ferguson to George Linde, FOUR, 100 up for South Africa for what it is worth! Leg cutter, in the slot, popped over covers by Linde and it trickles to the fence

George Linde should keep strike. There is no point letting Baartman get on strike. If South Africa want to reduce the damage, and score a few more runs, Linde should handle things. 

14.6 Kyle Jamieson to Ottniel Baartman, BEATS EVERYTHING THIS TIME! Baartman will be relieved that the over has ended. Jamieson nips another one back in on a back of a length, Baartman tries to defend in another post code and gets cut in half

14.5 Kyle Jamieson to Ottniel Baartman, WAS THAT OFF THE BAT? Nope. Another sharp nip-backer, on a hard length, hit the back leg before going through to Latham who pouched it to his left

14.4 Kyle Jamieson to Ottniel Baartman, OHH, that is painful and Baartman is down on his haunches! That has hit him where no one wants to get hit, he is in a lot of distress there. Nips back in from a length, Baartman had no clue about it, ended up playing at least a feet away from the line and the ball pinged him on the unmentionables. He is on the ground, the physio is out. Not sure what treatment you can give here, some stretches apparently

14.3 Kyle Jamieson to George Linde, went for the blockhole there, Linde chipped it over Jamieson's head and sprinted for the first run but one it all he will get as Neesham was quick to cut it from long-on

14.2 Kyle Jamieson to George Linde, now the slower bumper, angling away from Linde, he tries to drag it away into the leg side, does not make contact though