Levi's 117 (51 balls) sinks Black Caps

thunderous onslaught by South African opener Richard Levi ensured a T20 series decider against New Zealand at Eden Park on Wednesday night. Levi, all bristling pugnacity in his second international, crashed 117 off just 51 balls to carry South Africa to an eight-wicket win at Seddon Park last night. It wasthe third century in T20 internationals - he joins Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in that club - and his 45 balls to reach the 100 is the quickest of the three. His 13 sixes are a world record in the shortest form, eclipsing Gayle's 10 against South Africa at Johannesburg five years ago. Chasing a competitive if far from imposing 173 for four, Levi made short work of the task with his whirlwind exhibition. To a degree he was helped by two factors: the small outfield, which was at his mercy, and bowling that at times was witless. Someone came up with a cunning plan that Levi might be susceptible to the short ball. Some plan. The 24-year-old from Cape town crunched six sixes off his first 22 balls and simply kept going. "It was one of those nights where everything came into my place, every shot I played came off," Levi, who was unaware of the sixes world record, said last night. His skipper, AB de Villiers called it "an amazing innings by a man for the future". McCullum, the New Zealand captain, praised Levi's innings but added, "We want to make sure we don't over-analyse this one." At the finish - and South Africa won with a whopping four overs to spare - Levi's unbroken stand of 133 with de Villiers was the second highest for the third wicket, behind Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson's 137 against Zimbabwe at Eden Park nine days ago. Levi appeals as a batsman not bogged down by delicate touches. He dealt in brute power and New Zealand were helpless. A sellout crowd of 10,700 would have had hopes high of a tight contest at halftime, after it had seemed New Zealand would battle to put up a defendable total. In the end it was undefendable. Things went well for a time, Rob Nicol getting a flyer, including lifting Morne Morkel's first ball of the night onto the roof of a tent at wide long on, causing the drinkers beneath to spill a drop or more. Guptill, chasing a sixth successive international 50, fell at 47, caught at fine leg off a miscued pull, giving big Marchant de Lange - who has played only one domestic T20 game - his first T20 wicket. Mcullum looked itchy, a couple of ugly swipes at air hinting at a feeling New Zealand weren't as far advanced as they knew they needed to be. When he departed at 114 for three in the 15th over, South Africa would have been well content. Step forward James Franklin, who is becoming a key figure in the latter stages these days. The experienced lefthander delivered in spades. Four times in five balls he cleared the fence. Kane Williamson chimed in and the pair put on 45 in 19 balls to ensure New Zealand were right in business at halftime - or so they thought. England took a 2-0 lead in their five-game T20 series against New Zealand with an easy 48-run win at Seddon Park. Sent in, England rattled up 166 for seven, their third highest T20 total, with Laura Marsh hitting 48 off 29 balls, Sarah Taylor 45 off 33 and captain Charlotte Edwards 33 from 26 deliveries. Lucy Doolan's two for 30 was the pick of the New Zealand bowling figures. New Zealand were always behind the required rate and were dismissed for 118 in 19.2 overs. Captain Suzie Bates' 37 was top score, while Sara McGlashan made a run-a-ball 28. Danielle Wyatt's three for 24 stood out for England.