SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
NZ WON
T20
NZ beat SA by 21 runs
Man of the Match - Tim Robinson
NZ
173-5
20.0/20 Ovrs
152-10
18.2/20 Ovrs
SA
T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, 2025 |Match 2 |7/16/2025
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Commentary
- Right then, that’s a wrap from us for this contest. Be sure to join us again on Friday, July 18th, for the third game in the Tri-Series, where Zimbabwe will take on New Zealand, right here at the same venue. The match begins at 11:00 AM GMT, but as always, you’re welcome to tune in early for all the pre-match build-up and analysis. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
- Mitchell Santner, the skipper of New Zealand, says that it was a great team performance. Adds that the partnership between Tim Robinson and Bevon Jacobs was outstanding. Shares that they were happy to get 170, and the batters capitalized well at the end. Closes by adding that they picked up regular wickets and put the Proteas under pressure.
- Tim Robinson wins the Player of the Match award for his blistering knock. Says that he feels great to contribute to the win. Adds that they had a rough start, but the partnership with Bevon Jacobs worked well. Shares that the Proteas were excellent with the ball, but we wanted to take deep and build a decent stand. Mentions that the surface was a good one and the Proteas used the big side well. Closes by adding that the start was difficult, but once they got set, they cashed in.
- Rassie van der Dussen, the skipper of South Africa, is up for a chat. He says that they were put under pressure, but the bowlers did a fine job to keep New Zealand to 173, and the batters let them down. Adds that they want to play a certain way, and sometimes things may go wrong. Shares that the series will see them experimenting a bit, and they had to play smart and use the short boundary well. Adds that it is not the end of the world, as they will try to come back strong. Lauds Senuran Muthusamy for his performance with the ball.
- Presentation time...
- Earlier today, after being asked to bat first, the Kiwis recovered from a precarious 70/5 to post a competitive 173/5, thanks to a crucial partnership between Tim Robinson and Bevon Jacobs. In response, South Africa faltered with the bat. Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy led the bowling effort with three wickets apiece, while Ish Sodhi chipped in with two, and James Neesham added one. Mitchell Santner contributed a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss Rassie van der Dussen. For South Africa, Kwena Maphaka and Senuran Muthusamy delivered solid spells, but it wasn't enough to prevent their first loss of the tournament. They now sit with one win and one defeat, while New Zealand start strong with a win.
- New Zealand kick off their Tri-Series campaign with a composed and clinical performance, securing a 21-run victory over South Africa. Chasing 174 for victory, South Africa started brightly through Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who played a lively cameo of 27. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse, with the Proteas slipping to 62/5 by the ninth over. Dewald Brevis and George Linde both contributed brisk 30s to revive hopes, but their untimely dismissals stalled the momentum. Gerald Coetzee fought valiantly towards the end, but the target proved too steep. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 152 with 10 balls remaining, handing New Zealand a confident start to the series.
- 18.2WMatt Henry to Gerald Coetzee, OUT! CAUGHT! A COMFORTABLE 21-RUN WIN FOR THE BLACK CAPS! Slower ball on the length, around off. Gerald Coetzee hacks it toward the deep mid-wicket region. James Neesham runs in from the ropes and takes an excellent catch. New Zealand start the tri-series on a winning note.
- 18.14Matt Henry to Gerald Coetzee, FOUR! EDGED AWAY! Slower ball on the full, outside off. Gerald Coetzee swings hard, gets the outside edge that flies over short third for a streaky boundary.
- END OF OVER 18 | 5 Runs & 2 Wkt | SA 148/9
- 17.60Jacob Duffy to Lungi Ngidi, On a hard length, on off. Lungi Ngidi defends from the crease and survives the hat-trick ball. 26 needed off 12 balls.
- 17.5WJacob Duffy to Kwena Maphaka, OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Duffy gets two in two! Pitched full, on off. Kwena Maphaka looks to go over extra cover but chips it straight to Mitchell Santner at the short cover region, who takes a sharp catch. Kwena Maphaka departs for a golden duck. South Africa are nine down.
- Kwena Maphaka walks in next.
- 17.4WJacob Duffy to George Linde, LINDE HOLES OUT! Jacob Duffy gets the last recognized batter. Bowls it slower, back of a length, on the middle and leg. George Linde picks it early and pulls it toward the deep mid-wicket region, where Devon Conway takes a simple catch. That should be the game for South Africa.
- 17.30Jacob Duffy to George Linde, Excellent yorker, outside off. George Linde looks to squeeze but misses.
- 17.21Jacob Duffy to Gerald Coetzee, On a hard length, on middle. Dabbed to short third for one.
- 17.14Jacob Duffy to Gerald Coetzee, FOUR! CRUNCHED! Slower, back of a length, on off. Gerald Coetzee makes room and smashes it through extra cover for a cracking boundary.
- END OF OVER 17 | 7 Runs & 0 Wkt | SA 143/7
- 16.60James Neesham to George Linde, On a length, around off. George Linde dabs it to backward point. A dot to end the over.
- 16.54James Neesham to George Linde, FOUR! DEFT TOUCH! Back of a length delivery, just outside off. George Linde hangs back and guides it past the keeper, toward the third man region for a clever boundary.
- 16.41James Neesham to Gerald Coetzee, Slower, back of a length, on the middle and leg. Gerald Coetzee pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for one.
- 16.30James Neesham to Gerald Coetzee, Short of a good length, just outside off. Gerald Coetzee plays and misses.
- 16.21James Neesham to George Linde, Slower ball on the full, on middle. George Linde looks to heave, ends up getting the inside edge toward backward square leg for one.
- 16.11James Neesham to Gerald Coetzee, Slower ball on a length, around off. Gerald Coetzee carves it toward deep point for one.
- END OF OVER 16 | 11 Runs & 0 Wkt | SA 136/7