Richard Levi hit 13 sixes in his 117 off 51 balls

The 24-year-old flamboyant right-hander, playing his second only second T20 international, plundered 117 off just 51 balls to lead South Africa past 174-run victory target with four overs to spare.

The three-match series is now leveled by 1-1, with final match scheduled on Wednesday at Eden Park in Auckland.

Opener Levi switched on a show of blistering hitting from the first over and mauled the Blackcaps all around the ground.

Swashbuckling West Indies opener Chris Gayle was holding the previous best mark of sixes, 10. Levi brought up his century in 45 balls, five quicker than the previous record secured jointly by Gayle and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum.

New Zealand VS South Africa: De Villiers scored 39

Skipper AB de Villiers scored 39 off 36 balls and stitched up an unbroken 133-run third wicket.partnership with Levi.

Earlier, Martin Guptill’s 47 off 35 balls and an array of contributions from the other top-four helped New Zealand to manage a total of 173-4 after they were asked to bat.

Opener Guptill, who has been in sweltering form during this home season, was scampering towards his seventh successive international fifty but a top-edged a hook off rookie seamer Marchant de Lange perished him three runs behind the fate.

New Zealand VS South Africa: Guptill, McCullum added 60 runs

Guptill and opener Rob Nicol (23 off 17) got hosts off to a flying start and accumulated 37 runs of first 26 deliveries before Nicol became the victim of de Villiers direct throw. His 35-ball vigil was studded with seven boundaries and a six.

Guptill moved on the anticipation towards a competitive total and put on 60 in the company of skipper McCullum (35 off 31), who fell to Johan Botha.

James Franklin (28 off 10) and Kane Williamson (28 off 20) made some late fireworks to boost the scoreboard.

New Zealand VS South Africa 2nd Twenty20 Scorecard