New Zealand’s new white-ball coach Rob Walter, who previously held the same role with South Africa, began his tenure with a hard-fought win over his former team. Chasing a target of 174, South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 111 for 7 in the 14th over. George Linde’s 30 off 20 balls, including a 37-run stand with Gerald Coetzee, gave them a glimmer of hope, but Linde holed out in the 18th over to Jacob Duffy, who then sealed the match with two wickets in two balls. New Zealand’s total of 173 — their joint second-highest T20I score against South Africa — proved enough on a pitch where short balls caused problems. Three of New Zealand’s top five fell to back-of-a-length deliveries, and the team was struggling at 70 for 5 in the 10th over. However, Tim Robinson and South African-born debutant Bevon Jacobs staged a remarkable comeback, putting on 103 runs for the sixth wicket — the second-highest sixth-wicket stand for New Zealand in T20Is and just the eighth century partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in men’s T20I history. Their late acceleration added 43 runs in the final three overs.
South Africa’s batting lacked any major partnership, with their highest stand — 39 between Dewald Brevis and Linde — coming for the sixth wicket. With Senuran Muthusamy surprisingly batting at No. 4 and Linde coming in at No. 7, South Africa might consider a reshuffle before their next match against Zimbabwe. New Zealand, missing several key players including Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra due to MLC commitments, were boosted by Matt Henry’s return. Playing his first match since a shoulder injury at the Champions Trophy, Henry impressed with figures of 3 for 34.
Meanwhile, Coetzee returned to international cricket for the first time since November 2024, having struggled with groin and hamstring injuries. Although he began promisingly, his control faded, and he finished with 1 for 39 — the most expensive figures among South Africa’s bowlers. Tim Robinson starred with the bat, scoring a career-best that included three sixes, one of which saw him back away and uppercut Coetzee over backward point to bring up his fifty. Alongside Jacobs, he handled the South African seamers with authority, especially during the death overs.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius bounced back from a golden duck in the series opener with an aggressive 25 off 15 balls. He dominated the early stages of the chase, hitting five boundaries in his first 13 balls before edging Matt Henry behind. New Zealand’s fielding also played a pivotal role, with a brilliant run-out from Mitchell Santner catching Rassie van der Dussen short and reducing South Africa to 62 for 5 in the ninth over. Despite a late effort from Brevis and Linde, South Africa were bowled out for 152 in 18.5 overs, falling short by 21 runs in Harare.
Tune in to sports 360 with Ahmed Hammad. New Zealand beat South Africa by 21 in their opening match of the tri nation series at Harare to go on top of the points table. Yes, South African captain Rashi Dusen winning the toss and put New Zealand into bat first and batting first. New Zealand scored 173 for the loss of five wicket in their stipulated 20 overs and in reply South Africa could only scored 152. They were bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs thus losing the match by 21 runs. After being put into bat first, New Zealand scored 173 for the loss of five wicket in their allotted 20 overs at a run rate of 8.65 65 thank to Tim Robinson unbeaten 75 and Beavenon Jacobs unbeaten 44 and their 103 runs unbroken partnership for the six wicket that enabled New Zealand to put 173 runs on the board. Their start was brisk and in just 2.5 overs they put 27 runs on the board but they lost their first wicket of Tim Scipford for 22. He made 22 of 16 balls hitting four fours with a strike rate of 137 caught by Mutusami of the Bing of Lungini Nigi. Then the second wicket at 35. David Conley the other opener also fell cheaply. He could only scored nine of seven balls hitting two caught by Pritorius of the bowling of Mafaka. The third wicket fell at 62. The third wicket partnership put on 27 of 22 balls between Daryl Mitchell and Tim Robinson. Robinson made 21 in that partnership and Mitchell five but the third wicket fell at 62 in the eighth over and Daryl Mitchell was the third man to go scoring five or five ball caught by Mafaka of the bowling of Darl Kzia. The fourth wicket at 69. Seven runs later Mitchell Hay departs after scoring two of three balls. He was legged before by Matusami. While the fifth wicket fell at 70 in the 10th over Jimmy Nisham was the fifth man to go out without scoring. He was caught by Bosch of the bowling of Makafa. Then the six wicket partnership of 103 unbroken 103 run six wicket partnership of 63 ball which mean 10.3 overs and these two batsmen Tim Robinson and Jacobs added 103 runs and Tim Robinson contributed 48 of 33 ball and Jacob 44 of 30 balls and took their total to 173 for the loss of five wicket. In the end, Tim Robinson remained unbeaten on 75 and he scored Doran of 57 balls hitting six and three sixes with a strike rate of 132 while Beavenon Jacobs made 44 of 30 balls hitting 14 and three sixes with a strike rate of 147. New Zealand batsman hit 15 fours and six sixes. Looking at the South African bowling Liidi three overs, 28 runs and one wicket. His economy was 9.33 and he was hit for two fours and one six. He also bowled three wide balls. Huamaka four of his 38 runs and two wicket with economy of 9.50. He bowled 11 dot balls and was hit for four fours and one six and he bowled five wide balls. Then Corbin B four over 33 runs and no wicket with economy of 8.25 and he was hit for five fours. Then Gerald Corsia four overs 39 runs and one wicket with economy of 9.75. He was hit for two fours and three sixes and he bowled two wide balls. George Linde bowled just one over gave away 13 runs without taking a wicket and he was hit for one six and his economy was 13. While Sanuran Matusami bowled four overs gave away just 19 runs and took one wicket and his economy was 4.75 and he was not hit for even a single boundary. In reply South Africa chasing a target of 174 were bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs. Their start was also very brisk. They scored 34 runs in just 3.1 over but lost their first wicket in the fourth over. Land Pritorius was the first man to go when the team total was 34 and he made 27 of 17 balls hitting six holes with a strike rate of 159 caught by wicket keeper Tim Ciphford of the bowling of Henry. The second wicket fell just one run later Robin Herman was the second man to go in the fifth over and he made one of five balls caught by Henry of the bowling of Duffy. The third wicket 15 runs later Riza Hendrix depart in the seventh over and he made 16 of 12 balls hitting two fours and he was clean bowled by Mitchell Sat. The fourth wicket 10 runs later at 60 sonuran Matusami departs in the eighth over scoring seven of nine balls and he was bowled by Sodi. The fifth wicket two runs later South African captain Russi wonder Ducen depart in the ninth over and South Africa was 62 for five half of the side back in the pavilion and Russi wonder Den was run out for six of eight balls. The six wicket fell at 101. The six figure partnership between George Linda and Devil Brevis put on 39 runs of 20 balls and Devil Brevis scored 33 of 16 balls in that partnership while Linda contributed four runs. But their six wicket fell at 101 in the 12th over and David Brevis was the sixth man to go scoring 35 of 18 balls hitting fours and three sixes with a strike rate of 194 caught by Daryl Mitchell of the bowling of Matt Henry. The seventh wicket 10 runs later Corbin Bosch Depart after scoring eight from four balls and he was led before by Ishodi. The eight wicket at 148. The eight wicket partnership added another 37 of 27 ball between George Linda and Gerald Kzia. Linda contributed 24 of 13 and Kia 13 of 14 ball and took their total to 148. And in the 18th over George Linda Depart caught a deep mid wicket of the bowling of Duffy he made 30 of 20 balls hitting four and two sixes. While the ninth wicket number was out on the very first ball caught by Mitchell Satar of the bowling of Duffy without scoring and the 10th and final wicket fell at 152 in the 19th over and Gerald Kzia was the 10th man to go and he made 17 of 16 balls hitting two scores with a strike rate of 106 caught by Jimnisham of the bowling off Matt Henry and South Africa were all out for 152 in 18.2 two overs, thus losing the match by 21 runs. South African batsman hit 13 fours and six sixes. Looking at the New Zealand bowling, Matt Henry 3.2 overs, 34 runs and three wicket with economy of 10.20. He bowled 10 dot ball and was hit for fours and two sixes. Jacob Duffy four overs, 20 runs and three wicket. Economical bowling just five is his economy. He bowled 16 dot balls and he was hit for only three fours. Ishodi four over 34 runs and two wicket with economy of 8.50. He bowled five dot balls. He was hit for two fours and one six. Jimmy Nisham three over 29 runs and no wicket with economy of 9.66 and he was hit for 34. Then Mitchell Satner four over 35 runs and one wicket with economy of 8.75. He was hit for 14 and three sixes. Tim Robinson of New Zealand who scored an unbeaten 75 of 57 balls hitting six fours and three sixes was declared man of the match. Moving on to points table of the tri nation series. New Zealand winning the opening match of the series are at the top of the points table. They have played one match 1 and they have two points with a net trend rate of 1.05 while South Africa are at number two. They have played two matches 1- one lost one and have two points with a net run rate of.35 while Zimbabwe are at the bottom. They have played one match and have lost one match and they have no point but their net run rate is minus 1.98. Keep on watching Sports 360 with Ahmed Hammad for latest news, views, and interviews of sports personalities from around the
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