Devon Conway's 60 off 49 balls anchored New Zealand to 175/6, a total that proved far too steep for South Africa's batsmen. Josh Clarkson's late flourish—26 from just 9 deliveries—lifted the hosts through the middle overs, exploiting a bowling unit that leaked runs when it mattered most. New Zealand's powerplay yielded 48 runs, setting the tone for a dominant display.
South Africa's chase collapsed spectacularly. George Linde's pyrotechnics—33 off 12—arrived too late and too lone, a counter-attack without an orchestra. The tourists managed just 107 all out in 15.3 overs, falling 68 short in brutal fashion. Rubin Hermann chipped in 19 off 12, but no other batter reached double figures. The middle order simply evaporated.
New Zealand's bowlers suffocated the chase. Wiaan Mulder took 2/14 across his 3 overs, strangling South Africa's scoring with disciplined lines. Mitchell Santner's 2/19 from 4 overs further reinforced the hosts' control, while James Neesham's miserly 1/10 allowed nothing loose. South Africa's run rate plummeted from 8.75 per over at the powerplay to 6.95 overall—the gap between intent and execution.