Skip to content
South African and New Zealand players in action during the T20I Tri-Series match at Harare Sports Club on July 16, 2025.
South Africa and New Zealand face off in a thrilling T20I Tri-Series match at Harare.

New Zealand vs South Africa : Proteas Aim to Stay Undefeated in Tri-Series Match 2​

Match Overview & Significance

The second match of the 2025 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation T20I Series, pitting New Zealand against South Africa, takes center stage today at the Harare Sports Club. With South Africa entering the fixture unbeaten after a dominant win over Zimbabwe, and New Zealand raring to make a statement following squad changes, all eyes are on this thrilling cricket clash.

Team Lineups & Key Changes

South Africa (Proteas)

  • Captain: Rassie van der Dussen won the toss and chose to bowl first (Business Standard, Wisden)
  • Notable Players:
    • Debutant spinner Senuran Muthusamy
    • Bowlers like Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, and George Linde
    • Aggressive batters Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis

 

New Zealand (Black Caps)

  • Captain: Mitchell Santner
  • Replacements:

 

 Match Time & Broadcast Info

  • Date & Time: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1:00 pm local time (UTC +0) (Wisden)
  • Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
  • Live Coverage: Use Wisden, FanCode, and major sports channels across India and NZ (Business Standard)

 

Tactical Analysis & Match Preview

Bowling vs Batting

  • South Africa’s decision to bowl first reflects confidence in their bowling attack (Ngidi, Bosch, Linde) on Zimbabwe’s spinning track (mint)
  • New Zealand may rely on their spin all-rounder Santner to counter early breakthroughs.

 

Batting Depth

  • SA’s top order (Hendricks, Pretorius, van der Dussen) offers stability, with quick finishers like Brevis and debutant Hermann bringing power.
  • NZ has to compensate for Finn Allen’s absence through Conway’s consistency and Robinson’s aggressive approach (The Indian Express, Reuters) 

 

Pitch & Conditions

  • Harare’s pitch is expected to aid spinners as the game progresses (The Indian Express). Toss could play a major role in match tactics. 

 

What to Watch For

  1. Can SA extend their unbeaten streak? Their momentum from the Zimbabwe game will be a key factor.
  2. Debut performances: Senuran Muthusamy and Bevon Jacobs are eager to make early impressions.
  3. Conway’s impact: Will the veteran play his part for New Zealand in Allen’s absence?
  4. Game strategy: Will Santer’s spin and NZ’s bench strength even the contest?

 

Match Trajectory So Far

In the tournament opener, South Africa impressed with a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe—thanks to Hermann (45) and Brevis (41), while Linde’s 3/10 kept pressure on the hosts (The Indian Express, Wisden). Now they face another stern challenge in New Zealand.

Conclusion

Today’s match is more than just the next game—it could define the trajectory of both teams in the tri-series. South Africa will aim to cement dominance, while New Zealand looks to rebound and unsettle the Proteas.