Johan Botha held his nerve to hit the winning boundary and give South Africa a three-wicket victory over New Zealand [Images] in their Twenty20 international on Friday.

Botha drove the penultimate ball of the match through mid-wicket for four in a thrilling conclusion to a match in which South Africa always seemed in control.

Chasing the New Zealand score of 129 for seven, South Africa reached 131 for seven to win with one ball to spare.

AB de Villiers was the top scorer with 52 not out but South Africa still needed five runs off three balls when Botha produced his heroics.

Spinner Jeetan Patel had bowled the tourists back into the game with two for 17 in his four overs after De Villiers and JP Duminy had taken South Africa to 88 for three after 12 overs.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat Scott Styris (30) and Kyle Mills (33 not out) provided the only resistance to the good South African bowling led by Shaun Pollock's [Images] three for 28.

Botha had also impressed with the ball with one for 19 in his four overs.

Scorecard

New Zealand innings:
 L. Vincent lbw b Botha 15
 B. McCullum c Duminy b Pollock 9
 J. How c Duminy b Pollock 14
 R. Taylor c Kallis b Morkel 7
 S. Styris c Smith b Steyn 30
 G. Hopkins c de Villiers b Morkel 6
 D. Vettori c Morkel b Pollock 2
 K. Mills not out 33
 M. Gillespie not out 4
 Extras: (lb-3, w-6) 9
 Total: (seven wickets; 20 overs) 129

 Did not bat: J. Patel, M. Mason

 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-34, 3-45, 4-66, 5-78, 6-84, 7-98

 Bowling: S. Pollock 4-0-28-3 (1w), D. Steyn 4-0-17-1, C. Langeveldt 4-0-33-0 (3w), J. Morkel 4-0-29-2 (2w), J. Botha

4-0-19-1.

 South Africa innings
 G. Smith c McCullum b Mills 7
 J. Kallis c Mills b Gillespie 4
 J. Duminy st McCullum b Vettori 33
 AB de Villiers not out 52
 M. Boucher lbw b Patel 7
 S. Pollock c Taylor b Patel 6
 A. Morkel c Vettori b Styris 9
 V. Philander run out 2
 J. Botha not out 6
 Extras: (lb-2, w-2, nb-1) 5
 Total: (seven wickets; 19.5 overs) 131

 Did not bat: C. Langeveldt, D. Steyn

 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-33, 3-64, 4-89, 5-103, 6-116, 7-124

 Bowling: K. Mills 3.5-0-34-1, M. Gillespie 4-0-22-1 (2w), D. Vettori 4-0-24-1, M. Mason 3-0-28-0 (1nb), J. Patel 4-0-17-2, S.

Styris 1-0-4-1.

Result: South Africa win by three wickets

Man of the match: AB de Villiers (South Africa)