New Zealand v South Africa, 3rd T20, Auckland

New Zealand limit South Africa to 165

South Africa 165 for 7 (Duminy 38, Nicol 2-20) v New Zealand

	Rob Nicol and Tim Southee picked up two wickets apiece as New Zealand kept South Africa in check © Getty Images

Rob Nicol took two catches, two wickets and effected a run-out as New Zealand kept South Africa to 165 on a small ground where 180 is considered a minimum. New Zealand reined South Africa in in the last third of their innings, giving away only nine runs from the 15th to the 17th over, while taking three wickets. In that period, Nicol struck twice in the same over while Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee put together a string of ten dot balls that ended with the wicket Johan Botha - a one-handed snatch out of the sky by Martin Guptill.

Of greater concern to South Africa than their inability to push on with the bat, would be the injury sustained by captain AB de Villiers, who appeared to hurt his left hamstring. de Villiers tumbled over after missing a reverse-pull off Nicol, as he looked to save himself from being stumped, and immediately clutched his leg. He hobbled through singles and off the field after that, dismissed for 29.

New Zealand's first three bowlers were all left-armers and the two seamers, Michael Bates and James Franklin, bowled seven loose balls between them to start. Bates bowled a line that was too straight to Amla and made boundary-picking easy for him, while Franklin offered a Levi a gift that the South Africa opener sent over backward square for six. Franklin followed up with an identical delivery but Brendon McCullum had moved fine leg and Nicol was in the perfect place to take a sliding catch.

Albie Morkel was promoted up the order to No. 3 and managed one almighty six off Bates over cow corner before holing out to long-on. Morkel looked to take on Tim Southee from the first ball and tried to slog over leg side, but was cramped for room and had to duck a bouncer before he dragged a ball from outside off across the line and Nicol ran in to take his second catch.

Hashim Amla had built a platform and looked ready to launch from it when he slapped Ronnie Hira for four through point and six over the covers. His offside assault almost cost him when he sliced a ball to Guptill in the same over but was put down. Eight balls later, though, Amla was not so lucky. He pushed at Doug Bracewell's first ball and was caught behind.

South Africa needed a partnership, and AB de Villiers and JP Duminy provided one. They built in the old-fashioned way, taking two overs to establish themselves before Duminy struck a glorious, high-elbowed six into the stands. He was the aggressor, improvising with the reverse-sweep and taking on the full ball.

Just as de Villiers also found his boundary hitting groove, Duminy was run out against the run of play. He was backing up too far at the non striker's end when de Villiers hit the ball back to Nicol who turned and broke the stumps. De Villiers' injury hampered his scampering abilities and he had to find runs in boundaries. He tried to slog-sweep Nicol but missed completely and was clean bowled. Nicol struck again in that over when he struck Ontong on the thigh and had him out lbw.

Bracewell and Southee used the change of pace well, as South Africa's lower middle-order could not get them away. Wayne Parnell and Robin Peterson rallied in the final over to take 13 runs off Southee, who could not get the yorker right, but South Africa will have to bowl well to defend their score.