South Africa still have to produce their best form in the short version of the game. The 2-1 T20 series win over New Zealand is a result of which they can be proud, but there are still questions to be answered.

A Richard Levi blitzkreig glossed over problems that surfaced again at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday night when the Proteas squeezed out a three-run win against the run of play.

Overs 4 to 10 did not produce enough boundaries for South Africa at Wellington when they lost by six wickets.

But there was a big improvement by the time they reached Eden Park, where they did superbly in the closing overs.

The problem with being the best and winning the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September is that South Africa will need to maintain their momentum for the full 20 overs. Bowling can still be pacey, but control must be uppermost.

At times at Eden Park AB de Villiers had a slip, yet the bowlers continually bowled straight or on the legside, providing easy pickings, especially up front, where the Kiwis were able to get into some batting ascendancy.

It says much for the fortitude of the team that they were able to win when they had been coming second for 75% of the game.

The "C" word is being used by Kiwis after Wednesday - and rightly so. It was a choke of major proportions.

The ODIs, which start tomorrow, will be different - and more to the liking of South Africa.

They will welcome back Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, as well as feared paceman Dale Steyn.

New Zealand, however, have found a new spirit under coach John Wright and, apart from the one slip-up, have been on a par with South Africa. Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder are a formidable foursome and will be hard to contain.

Richards will write regular columns during the Proteas' tour of New Zealand