| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
East London: A four off the final ball of the match brought up a scintillating century for Martin Guptill and also secured a tense eight-wicket victory for New Zealand over South Africa in the second Twenty20 international at Buffalo Park, East London.
Having missed the opening Twenty20 loss with a stomach bug, Guptill made a triumphant return to the top of the order in scoring an unbeaten 101 off 69 balls – the first century of his 20-over international career.
It allowed New Zealand to overhaul South Africa's 5-165, which was adjusted to a target of 169 on the Duckworth-Lewis System after a power outage at the ground during the 14th over of the home side's innings.
Guptill struck nine fours and six sixes in his match-winning knock and the Proteas will rue shelling two skied chances off his bat as well as a dismissal that was disallowed for being delivered over hip height.
South Africa's effort was led by in-form stand-in captain Faf du Plessis, who was in the runs again with 63 off 43 balls.
Rookie opener Henry Davids made his first international half-century with 55 off 38 and David Miller offered a hard-hit 33 off 18 at the death.
Doug Bracewell took 3-33 for New Zealand, which included three wickets in four balls in the 19th and final over.
Mitchell McClenaghan again impressed at the top, having figures of 1-15 off three overs until leaking another 17 in his fourth at the hands of Miller.
McClenaghan's wicket of Davids owed to an incredible catch by fellow rookie Jimmy Neesham that will live on as one of the greatest catches seen in the international arena. Backpedalling from mid-off to get underneath a shot from Davids that had snow on it, Neesham slid and took it full length before controlling his body to stay just inside the ropes.
The chase required a similarly spectacular effort from a batsman and Guptill was the man to do it.
He was particularly harsh on left-arm spinners Robin Peterson (1-28 off three) and Aaron Phangiso (0-42), striking them straight and hard with his unique head-down, bat-through technique.
He added 76 for the opening stand with Rob Nicol, who found the boundary four times before being caught at long on from Peterson's bowling for 25 off 24.
Captain McCullum came and went in exactly the same fashion for 17 off 15, leaving Guptill and Colin Munro, in his only his second match for his country, to get 20 off the last two overs.
They took nine off Morne Morkel's second to last over, leaving 11 to be scored from Rory Kleinveldt.
Two singles, a pair of twos by Munro and another single left Guptill – sitting on 97 – to find the boundary if he was to reach three figures and get his side over the line.
Kleinveldt looked to find the block hole but missed, giving Guptill the chance to free his arms over the offside where there were no men on the boundary.
Even with the lingering effects of a few days of sickness and having to run furiously up and down the Buffalo Park wicket, Guptill let out a triumphant roar as the ball sped out to the cover boundary and victory was secured.
The third and final match, at Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day, now appears a rare chance for New Zealand to secure a series win over major opposition.
Brief scores
South Africa 165 for 5 (Du Plessis 63, Davids 55)
New Zealand 169 for 2 (Guptill 101*)
Result New Zealand won by eight wickets (D/L method)
MOM Martin Guptil (New Zealand)
