New Zealand Vs South Africa LIVE Score, 3rd T20I: Sears Gets De Zorzi, Ferguson Takes Sharp Catch

Kyle Jamieson strikes again, and this time it’s George Linde who has to walk back. Linde looks to take him on but doesn’t quite get the timing right, and it flies straight into the safe hands of Tom Latham behind the stumps. A sharp, controlled catch and another blow for South Africa.

Linde departs after a handy 23 off 19, but New Zealand continue to stay firmly on top, picking wickets just when they need them.

James Neesham joins the party as New Zealand keep piling on the pressure. Dian Forrester goes for the cut, gets on top of the back-of-a-length delivery, but ends up slicing it straight to point. It was struck firmly, but right into the hands of Tim Robinson, who takes a safe catch in front of his face.

Another one bites the dust, Forrester goes for 17 off 15, and South Africa keep losing wickets at regular intervals.

Cole McConchie gets into the act now, and New Zealand keep striking at regular intervals. Rubin Hermann looks to work it away, but the ball skids on and sneaks through the gap to hit the stumps.

Clean bowled, no doubts, no drama. South Africa sink another blow as Hermann departs for 4 off 8, and New Zealand continue to tighten their grip on this innings.

Wicket! Ben Sears has the breakthrough, and New Zealand are all over South Africa early here. de Zorzi tries to get cheeky, shuffling across the stumps for the scoop, but Sears reads it perfectly and goes short and straight into the body. It catches the glove and pops up awkwardly toward short third man, where Lockie Ferguson tracks back calmly and completes a good catch.

A soft dismissal in the end, and that’s a big moment in the powerplay, South Africa lose their third wicket with the innings still in its infancy. de Zorzi walks back after a scratchy 15 off 18, and New Zealand are firmly on top right now.

SA 41/3 (6)

Jamieson comes in again, this one swings back in. de Zorzi goes hard at it, trying to hit over mid-on, but he doesn’t quite time it. Gets a bit of the inner half, and the ball runs away behind square on the leg side all the way to the fence at deep square leg. Not the cleanest contact, but it does the job, first boundary up for South Africa.

Game on. Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder are out in the middle, taking guard for South Africa, with de Zorzi on strike and ready to face the first ball. Kyle Jamieson has the new ball in hand for New Zealand, a tall figure charging in to open the attack.

Slip cordon set, fielders ringed around the bat, a testing first over awaits as Jamieson looks to extract bounce and movement right away. The atmosphere tightens, here we go.

South Africa (Playing XI): Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Nqobani Mokoena, Lutho Sipamla

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Tom Latham(w), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson

New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to field.

The match will be telecast live in India on the Sony Sports Network. Viewers can also stream it live on the Sony LIV app and website, as well as on Amazon Prime Video.

• Matches Played: 22

• NZ Won: 9

• SA Won: 13

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway, Tom Latham(w), Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Josh Clarkson, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Katene D Clarke, Jayden Lennox, Zakary Foulkes, Nathan Smith, Dane Cleaver

South Africa Squad: Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj(c), Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Prenelan Subrayen

Greetings, we are back with another live blog as New Zealand take on South Africa in the 3rd T20I. Stay tuned for live updates.