Harare, Zimbabwe – The much-anticipated T20 showdown between New Zealand vs South Africa in the 2025 Tri-Nation Series turned out to be a thrilling contest that showcased rising talent, middle-order resilience, and sharp bowling spells. Held at the Harare Sports Club on July 16, 2025, this second match of the tri-series brought drama and momentum swings, eventually seeing New Zealand emerge victorious by 21 runs.
Toss and Team News
South Africa won the toss and opted to field first on a dry surface that promised grip for spinners. Both teams featured a mix of experienced campaigners and new faces, with an eye on building depth ahead of the ICC World T20 later this year.
- New Zealand XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears
- South Africa XI: Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, Tristan Stubbs (wk)
First Innings: New Zealand Post 173/5
New Zealand began cautiously after losing early wickets. Devon Conway and Tim Seifert couldn’t convert their starts, but debutant Bevon Jacobs (44*) and rising star Tim Robinson (75*) rescued the innings with a 103-run unbeaten stand. Their calm approach against South Africa’s pacers helped New Zealand reach a competitive 173/5 in 20 overs.
- Best Bowlers for SA: Ngidi (2/26), Coetzee (1/31)
Second Innings: South Africa Collapse in Chase
South Africa began with intent but faltered under scoreboard pressure. Reeza Hendricks and Pretorius got starts but couldn’t stay long. New Zealand’s pace duo of Matt Henry (3/34) and Jacob Duffy (3/20) struck in key moments, while spinners Santner and Sodhi maintained the squeeze.
Despite a fighting 35 from Dewald Brevis, South Africa were bundled out for 152 in 18.2 overs, handing New Zealand a 21-run victory.
🏆 Player of the Match
Tim Robinson – for his composed 75 off 51 balls* that anchored New Zealand’s innings and set up the win.
Points Table Update
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +1.05 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.35 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1.91 |
Post-Match Reactions
Mitchell Santner (NZ Captain): “A great effort by the boys. Tim and Bevon showed maturity beyond their years. The bowlers backed it up well.”
Rassie van der Dussen (SA Captain): “We started well but lost key wickets at the wrong time. Credit to New Zealand for putting us under pressure.”
What’s Next?
South Africa will next face hosts Zimbabwe in a must-win game to keep their final hopes alive, while New Zealand will take on Zimbabwe later in the week.
Conclusion:
The New Zealand vs South Africa encounter offered everything — runs, wickets, partnerships, and pressure. As the Tri-Nation Series continues, this win gives New Zealand early dominance while South Africa needs to bounce back quickly.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Tri-Nation T20 Series 2025
