New Zealand, who opened their home series against South Africa with a thumping 6 wicket win in the first T20 will be keen to keep up the good work and seal the 3 match T20 series when they confront the Proteas in the penultimate T20 duel at Hamilton on Sunday. Meanwhile, the rusty Proteas will be looking to quickly get their bearings right and inherit the golden momentum from the Kiwis. With the T20 World Cup carnival scheduled later this year, this series will be of great significance to both sides as they look to determine which players to take with them.

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New Zealand:

After routing South Africa's neighbors, Zimbabwae, The Kiwis continued their superb run of form to stroll to an easy victory against the South Africans in the first T20 on Friday. The star of the match was New Zealand's Mr. Consistent, Martin Guptill, slamming an unbeaten 78 to help the home team draw first blood in the T20 series. Notably this was Guptill's sixth consecutive international half-century. The Brendon McCullum led side excelled in all departments to leave the Proteas in complete disarray. Though the chase was completed in the final over, New Zealand were on cruise control from start to finish. Tenacious fielding coupled with intense bowling enabled the hosts to restrict South Africa to 147-6. From thereon it was the Martin Guptill show!

Martin Guptill produced two moments of brilliance in the field and then blazed his way to an unbeaten 78 to take the first T20 International match away from the Proteas at Wellington on Friday. Although the match went all the way to the final over, the Black Caps won quite comfortably by six wickets with four balls to spare.

Guptill struck two mortal blows after the Black Caps had won the toss when he first ran out Hashim Amla for 19 off a misfield in a display that was similar to Jonty Rhodes' famous run out of Inzamam-ul-Haq at the 1992 ICC World Cup. He followed it with an excellent low catch to remove Proteas' captain AB de Villiers for 8 on a full blooded cover drive.

The Proteas kick off their Kiwi campaign on Friday as the two sides clash in a T-20 encounter at Wellington. The South Africans have had a well earned rest after their decent showing against the Sri Lankans at home and now they can focus on getting back into the groove of international cricket. Additionally, it is bound to be a good test for AB de Villiers, who starts off his travelling test as the limited overs skipper. On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how the rejuvenated New Zealand team under an inspired captain Brendon McCullum will unfold against the formidable South Africans.

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South Africa:

It does not take a doctorate knowledge in the sport to understand the biggest aim for South Africa on this tour is to win the test series 3-0 in order to rattle England off their top perch and end the year as the top ranked test team. The pride associated with finishing the year as no.1, and the prize money of $175,000 are ample incentive. Having said that, it is also very critical for De Villiers to prove his mettle as a captain considering this would be his first overseas tour as South African captain. Some other issues that the Proteas will be looking to address will be the lack of ruthlessness in their performances that was pretty evident in their last two one day internationals against Sri Lanka at home after they had already clinched the series.

A match-winning half century from Gautam Gambhir coupled with an outstanding effort in the field from the Indians helped the visitors register their first win of the Australian summer in the 2nd T20 at Melbourne. Australia tweaked their line-up for this game, and the change in personnel coupled with some brilliance from the Indian fielders saw the hosts bowled out for a well below par score of 131. India affected 4 run outs, including two from Ravindra Jadeja, who also bowled 3 rather economical overs to pick up 1-16. A rare good start from the Indian top order saw them ease to an 8 wicket win, though the fact that they got there with 2 balls to spare did no justice to the ease with which they controlled the run chase.

It was another opportunity for Australia to make first use of a fresh pitch, as the hosts won the toss at the 2nd T20 International in Melbourne and opted to bat. There were changes galore in the Australian line-up with Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Clint McKay coming into the side, with Travis Birt, Dan Christian and James Faulkner the benched trio. India meanwhile were understandably unchanged, opting not to axe any non-performers after just a solitary game. For India though that meant they continued to go into this game with a 2 seamer - 3 spinner combination.

The jerseys might have changed, the format might have changed, the composition of the teams might have changed but India's misery down under showed no signs of abating as the touring party slumped to another shameful surrender which saw them lose the opening T20 in Sydney by 31 runs. The Indian limited overs side will have to hit its straps quickly to break the Aussie jinx and carry some vital momentum forward into the Commonwealth Bank Tri series that begins on February 5th. The Aussies, on a roll at the moment will go all out when they collide with the beleaguered Indians in the final T20 game at Melbourne on Friday to clinch the short series 2-0.

Australia:

The Australians thoroughly outplayed the Indians in all departments of the game to cruise to a comfortable win at the Olympic Park in Sydney. George Bailey, the first Australian to skipper the side on debut since the 1800s made the right moves and put all the doubts regarding his leadership skills to rest. The promotion of Matthew Wade to the top of the order proved to be a masterstroke where he slammed a 43 ball 72 to leave the Indian bowling in disarray. The Australian captain marshaled his resources expertly and outshone his counterpart, MS Dhoni, who failed to read the pitch and quite shockingly elected to field first after winning the toss.

A blistering 72 from new wicketkeeper batsman Matthew Wade, and some inspired bowling by the Australian spinners helped the hosts cruise to a facile 31 run win in the 1st T20 of the series at Sydney on Wednesday night. India got a lot of decisions wrong today - starting with their team selection, failing to read the pitch and choosing poorly at the toss - and that didn't help their cause one bit. After being invited to make first use of a poor quality wicket, Australia posted a strong 171/4 in their 20 overs. A late fightback from the Indians prevented the Aussies from getting a lot more after their top order had made the most of the best batting conditions on offer. India started well in their chase, but lost three crucial wickets in the middle overs, two to part-timer David Hussey to push them behind the required run-rate. And from there on some poor shot selection on a pitch with virtually no bounce left them too much to do late on in their innings. A battling unbeaten 48 from skipper MS Dhoni was the only real highlight of the Indian innings. 

The jerseys might have changed, but the intent of the Aussies to completely demoralize India hadn’t. While at the other end, India was seeking a small opportunity to get back to winning ways as the first international T20 of the Australian summer got underway at a brand new cricket venue, Sydney's Olympic Park. With a splattering of rain and a newly laid track, it was slightly surprising to see Indian skipper MS Dhoni opt to bowl first on winning the toss.