All-round Sophie Devine stars in New Zealand's breezy win

Sophie Devine's all-round performance (38-ball 55* & 2/21) helped New Zealand clinch a comfortable 6-wicket win in the third T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. Chasing 150, the hosts overhauled the target with 8 balls to spare to take a 2-1 series lead.

Electing to bat, South Africa lost both openers early to New Zealand's new-ball pair. Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen controlled the innings briefly with a 51-run stand, but the scoring rate didn't soar. Devine and Suzie Bates struck twice through the middle overs, and Wolvaardt was run out, stalling South Africa's momentum. Kayla Reyneke provided a late flourish with a breezy 20-ball 34, including three sixes, to power the visitors to 149 for 7.

In response, South Africa's new-ball pair struck early but couldn't sustain pressure. Amelia Kerr combined with Isabella Gaze and Devine to steady the innings. South Africa struck twice in quick succession to reduce New Zealand to 68 for 4 by the 10th over, briefly seizing momentum.

That was South Africa's last success. Devine combined with Maddy Green to wipe out the remaining runs, adding 84 off 52 balls. The surge came in the 17th over with Green carting Hlubi for a six and two boundaries, shortly after Devine brought up her half-century. With five needed off eight balls, the game could have tightened, but Nadine de Klerk's wide was followed by a no-ball that raced to the boundary.

Brief Scores: South Africa 149/7 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 37, Kayla Reyneke 34*; Suzie Bates 2-10, Sophie Devine 2-21) lost to New Zealand 152/4 in 18.4 overs (Sophie Devine 55*, Amelia Kerr 30; Annerie Dercksen 1-17) by 6 wickets.