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New Zealand v South Africa - 2nd T20I – Match recap – South Africa gets even with an 8-wicket win

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New Zealand v South Africa - 2nd T20I – Match recap – South Africa gets even with an 8-wicket win
Opener Richard Levi’s extraordinary century enabled the South African's to draw level the three-match T20 series at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on February 19, as they arrived comfortably at the 174 target set by New Zealand in the second game.
The hosts, fresh from their recent victories against Zimbabwe, managed to continue their winning streak in the first T20I of the series against the Proteas, owing to a near faultless, well-rounded performance.
However, it was the visitors, who put in a spectacular performance, owing to a heroic maiden ton by the opener.
New Zealand kicked off their innings after being sent in to bat, with openers Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill adding a brisk 37. The former was the first wicket to fall after being run out on 23.
Riding on the back of a brilliant home summer, Guptill looked destined to score his seventh consecutive International half-century however, he fell three runs short of the milestone, after being caught easily by Albie Morkel off debutant Marchant De Lange.
He still remained the top-scorer for the Kiwis.
Skipper and wicketkeeper batsman, Brendon McCullum, managed to contribute 35 runs to the total, before his wicket was snapped up by Johan Botha. James Franklin brief stay was emphatic, where the left-hander smashed four sixes in his 10-ball 28, before being
caught behind off pacer, Morner Morkel.
Kane Williamson remained not out at 28, while Colin de Grandhomme faced 7 deliveries for his 3, before the 20 overs drew to a close, with New Zealand having racked up a healthy 173.
Compared to the last match, the South African bowlers displayed more focus with Botha remaining the most economical of the bowlers, conceding just 22 in his four overs. He, along with de Lange, and Morne Morkel also added their name to the wickets column.
The South African innings was dominated by Richard Levi, whose mammoth score of 117 off 51 balls propelled his team to victory, and earned him a handful of records to boast. His thirteen sixes broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a T20I innings,
and he also managed to score the fastest hundred in this particular format – off a mere 45 balls.
The rest of the top order gave mediocre performances. Experienced batsman Hashim Amla failed to shine, and was caught out at 2 by Franklin, off a delivery by spinner Nathan McCullum. It was a similar story for Parnell, who was promoted up the order but could
only make 4 before being stumped by Brendon McCullum.
Skipper AB de Villiers (39), who won his first match after being appointed the T20 captain, stuck it out at the crease till the very end, but the day belonged to Levi, who brought his team up to the 174 target in 16 overs, with 24 balls to spare.
New Zealand’s bowling performance was par, with Nathan McCullum and Nicol picking up a wicket each. Doug Bracewell  bowled 2 overs at the cost of 37 runs, and Tim Southee, who had picked up 3 wickets in the last match, returned with disappointing figures
of 4-0-40-0.
Predictably, the 24-year-old Levi was declared the Player of the Match, for his outstanding knock.
The 3rd and final T20I, which will decide the winner of the series, is scheduled to take place at Eden Park, Auckland, on February 22.