South Africa in New Zealand, 2012 Twenty20 Series: 2nd Twenty20

Feb 20, 2012
Michael Perera

Martin Guptill fell three runs short of what would have been his seventh consecutive half-century for New Zealand. - cricpulse / Flickr

Richard Levi hits the fastest century in Twenty20 international cricket as South Africa storm to victory in the 2nd game of the series against New Zealand.

It would be unfair to call New Zealand's victory in the first Twenty20 against South Africa an upset, but the all-round performance of the hosts would have come as a harsh wake-up call to their African visitors. As both teams cast one eye on the World Twenty20 Championships in Sri Lanka later this year, attention turned to the second Twenty20, in Hamilton, with New Zealand looking to clinch the series and South Africa aiming to rectify their poor start to the tour.

New Zealand Start Strong, But South Africa Pull Back

Earlier in the day, Laura Marsh led the England women's team to a strong victory over New Zealand, so after being put in to bat, the host's men's team made amends. They raced to 35 in 4 overs before Rob Nicol was sharply run out by AB de Villiers to give South Africa their first breakthrough. Martin Guptill was steaming towards his seventh consecutive half-century for New Zealand, but fell 3 short as South Africa pulled the game back with his wicket, and that of Brendon McCullum's for 35, at 114/3 in the 15th over.

James Franklin stole the momentum back by hitting 6, 6, 1, 6, 6 in consecutive balls, and Kane Williamson clubbed three quick boundaries to give the innings some oomph. Wayne Parnell conceded only 3 runs from the penultimate over to stall the Kiwis' progress, but the hosts finished on a testing 173/4.

Richard Levi All The Way

South Africa needed 27 more runs to win than they managed in the first game, and Richard Levi got them off to the start they needed. He had raced to 23* off just 10 balls when Hashim Amla fell in the 3rd over, and blasted South Africa past 50 in only the 5th over as Wayne Parnell was dismissed. Levi hit the New Zealand bowlers to every corner of the tiny ground, bringing up his half-century in just 25 balls.

Levi continued to find the stands, clubbing Doug Bracewell for three 6s in an over, the third of which broke the record for most 6s in a Twenty20 international innings. He reached his maiden international century for South Africa, and the fastest century in international Twenty20 history (off just 45 balls, three 4s and twelve 6s) as the Proteas raced ahead of the equation. Levi and AB de Villiers calmly saw South Africa to a victory with an unbeaten 133*-run partnership.

Small Boundaries, Big Scores

So a resounding victory from South Africa after being outclassed in the first game. Richard Levi lived up to his potential from the tour game against Canterbury to announce his presence to the world in style, tearing New Zealand apart and smashing his way to the joint-highest score in Twenty20 internationals - 117* off just 51 balls, striking at 229.

Can New Zealand Regroup?

The hosts will be disappointed that the good starts from all their batsmen didn't result in a better total. There's nothing wrong with 173, but given that they had 6 wickets in hand, maybe they should have attacked more. There's still a Twenty20 to win - will Brendon McCullum and his men be ready for Richard Levi?