The South Africa vs New Zealand T20I Tri-Series match in Harare turned into a one-sided game. Right from the start, New Zealand looked confident. They played better in all areas and defeated South Africa by 7 wickets. This was the fifth match of the 2025 Tri-Series. With this win, New Zealand moved one step closer to the final.
Match Score:
| Team | Score | Overs |
| South Africa | 134/8 | 20 |
| New Zealand | 135/3 | 15.5 |
| Result | NZ Won by 7 wickets | |
South Africa Innings
- Rassie van der Dussen – 14 (13 balls)
- Reeza Hendricks – 41 (37 balls, 4×4, 1×6)
- George Linde – 23 (15 balls, 1×4, 1×6)
New Zealand Innings
- Devon Conway – 19 (18 balls)
- Tim Seifert – 66 (48 balls, 6×4, 2×6) (Player of the Match)
- Daryl Mitchell – 20 (15 balls)
To begin with, South Africa batted first. However, their start wasn’t great. Captain Rassie van der Dussen opened the innings but got out early after scoring just 14 runs. After that, Reeza Hendricks tried to build the innings. He scored a decent 41 runs off 37 balls.
Even though Hendricks showed some resistance, wickets kept falling at the other end. As a result, South Africa couldn’t put up a big total. George Linde added an unbeaten 23 runs, but it was not enough. Eventually, South Africa ended their innings at 134 for 8 in 20 overs.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s bowlers kept things tight. They didn’t allow any big partnerships. Mitchell Santner and Jacob Duffy bowled smartly and took 2 wickets each. Additionally, Adam Milne bowled with control and kept the pressure on. Overall, it was a very disciplined bowling effort from the Kiwis.
In reply, New Zealand started their chase with full confidence. Tim Seifert and Devon Conway opened the innings. Right away, they gave their team a solid start, adding 51 runs in the powerplay. This made the chase much easier.
Even though Conway was out after scoring 19, New Zealand kept their momentum going. Seifert was on fire at the crease, consistently finding gaps, hitting boundaries, and smartly rotating the strike. His timing was spot on, and he skillfully avoided any risky shots.
Most importantly, Seifert did not give up till the end. He scored 66 runs from just 48 balls, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes. Even though he was dropped early on 1, he took full advantage of the chance and played a match-winning knock.
On the other side, South Africa’s bowlers struggled. They tried to fight back but couldn’t stop the flow of runs. Senuran Muthusamy was the most successful, picking up 2 wickets. Unfortunately, the other bowlers just weren’t able to put enough pressure on the Kiwi batters.
In the end, the winning shot came in the 16th over. New Zealand wrapped up the match with a score of 135/3 in just 15.5 overs. It was a dominant win and a strong comeback after their earlier loss to South Africa in this series.
In summary, the South Africa vs New Zealand T20I Tri-Series showcased the impressive all-around strength of the New Zealand team. With top-class bowling and powerful batting, they cruised to victory. As the Tri-Series heads toward its final stage, fans can expect more exciting games to come.
