The Blackcaps have plummeted to a nine-wicket pasting by South Africa in their Twenty20 World Cup warm-up match at Brisbane.
Last year's finalists were bundled out for a paltry 98 runs in 17.1 overs by the Proteas, who chased down the meagre target with 8.4 overs to spare and the loss of just a single wicket, led by Rilee Rossouw's undefeated 53 runs.
The New Zealanders now have one warm-up match remaining against India on Wednesday to right the ship, before their tournament opener against hosts Australia on Saturday.
Only Martin Guptill (26 runs) and Glenn Phillips (20) reached double figures for the Blackcaps, who were sent into bat, after losing the toss.
Once Guptill and Phillips departed, the situation rapidly deteriorated for the Blackcaps, as seven wickets tumbled for just 45 runs.
One of few positives for the Blackcaps to take from the match will be the fitness of fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne, who both got through the game unscathed.
Ferguson bowled an expensive 36-run, three-over spell, while Milne conceded just 11 runs from his two overs. Neither bowler took a wicket.
In early World Cup group matches, Scotland stunned twice T20 champions West Indies with a 42-run win at Hobart for another major upset.
The Caribbean side were bundled out for 118, chasing 161 to beat the Scots, a day after former champions Sri Lanka lost their opener to Namibia.
Meanwhile, captain Aaron Finch found some form to score 76 runs off 54 balls, but couldn't save Australia from a four-wicket warm-up defeat to India.
Blackcaps 98 (Guptill 26, Phillips 20; Maharaj 3/17) South Africa 100/1 (Rossouw 53no, Hendricks 27)
South African win by nine wickets
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