Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025 Final Match Results

Updated：New Zealand beat South Africa by 3 runs.

In a wild finish to the Harare T20I tri-series final, New Zealand just about held their nerve to edge past South Africa by three runs! Chasing 181, South Africa seemed to have it in the bag at 92 without loss, but a mid-innings collapse flipped the game on its head. Dewald Brevis and George Linde nearly pulled off a miracle with a gutsy 43-run stand, but Matt Henry’s ice-cool final over, defending just six, shut the door. Two wickets, a dropped catch turned save, and a dot off the last ball sealed the trophy for the Kiwis.

New Zealand edge out South Africa in a thrilling final to clinch the tri-series in Harare 🙌#NZvSA 📝: https://t.co/Qu0QrcxHFq pic.twitter.com/DyYytCXlAr

— ICC (@ICC) July 26, 2025

Earlier, New Zealand rode on fluent 47s from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra to post 180 for 5, despite a spirited fightback from the Proteas bowlers, especially Lungi Ngidi, who went for just 24 in four overs. Ravindra lit up the leg side, while Conway and Seifert laid the early foundation with a 75-run opening stand. South Africa’s fielders dazzled with some screamer catches, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius shone bright with a maiden fifty. But in the end, experience trumped promise, and New Zealand walked away undefeated champs!

Five wins on the trot to claim the T20I Tri-Series trophy 🏆 #SAvNZ #CricketNation 📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket pic.twitter.com/p6cXmqlgJ0

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 26, 2025

NZ vs RSA 2025 Final T20I – Match Details

NZ vs RSA 2025 Final T20I – Possible Squad List

Note：The match has not started yet, but updates will be provided regularly once it begins.

You can also click here to view the full T20I schedules

NZ vs RSA 2025 Final T20I – As Expected, South Africa Lost

As I mentioned in the article for the second match of the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series, looking at the pitch conditions, New Zealand had about a 60% chance of winning against South Africa. And, as expected, New Zealand won the match. Now, let’s see how South Africa could have adjusted before the final.

NZ vs RSA – South Africa’s Bowling Performance in the Tri-Series

Looking at the bowling stats, there’s a clear difference. South Africa’s economy rate was 9.1, while New Zealand’s was 8.42. Though this might not seem significant, the strike rates tell a different story: South Africa’s was 34.0, and New Zealand’s only 16.89. New Zealand’s top two bowlers took 6 wickets for 54 runs, while South Africa gave away 66 runs for 3 wickets. That’s a huge gap! With the higher economy rate, South Africa lost by 21 runs. Some might say New Zealand’s batsmen were stronger, but both teams had an average SR of 101, and New Zealand’s highest SR was only 146.66.

NZ vs RSA – What Went Wrong With South Africa’s Batting?

As mentioned earlier, New Zealand’s top batsman had an SR of 146.66, but South Africa’s batsmen, excluding extremes, had three with an SR over 150: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, and George Linde. Even with high SRs, if they couldn’t carry on, it didn’t matter. All three were out early, within 20 balls. In contrast, New Zealand’s Robinson played 57 balls for 75 runs. The difference was stability. Brevis and Linde were inconsistent. As the 6th and 7th batsmen, they should have been more cautious, especially after the first five scored only 57 runs off 51 balls. In the end, South Africa’s batsmen were out with 9 balls remaining. Chasing 21 runs in 9 balls wouldn’t have been difficult.

NZ vs RSA – Conclusion

To sum it up, I feel South Africa was too reckless in their approach against New Zealand, both with the bat and the ball. Especially with the batting, 9 balls still left in the game gave them a real chance to turn it around. Also, with the bowlers, if they can’t pick up wickets, they should focus on slowing down or disrupting the opponent’s rhythm. At least that could have reduced the pressure on the batsmen. So, even though I had predicted the outcome of the second match, unless South Africa fixes these issues, I still think New Zealand has the upper hand, whether it’s the second match or the final.

South Africa and New Zealand’s Average Batting and Bowling Stats

South Africa’s Bowler Performance Stats

New Zealand’s Bowler Performance Stats

South Africa’s Batting Performance Stats

New Zealand’s Batting Performance Stats

NZ vs RSA 2025 Final T20I – Venue History&Analysis: Harare Sports Club Cricket Stadium

Stadium Capacity: Around 10,000 spectators

Stadium Address: 3 Lanark Road, Harare, Zimbabwe

About the Stadium:

HSC is one of the most important stadiums in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, and indeed one of the most significant in the entire country. Every year, apart from hosting various cricket events, it also serves as the venue for major international cricket and football matches. On such occasions, the stadium often brands the day as Harare Day, a special event meant to celebrate these big matches. Since it’s not an official national holiday, Harare Day doesn’t have a fixed date. Instead, it typically takes place in conjunction with significant international sports events. This “Harare Day” is not really an established national holiday, but rather an event organized by the stadium to promote sports and bring people together.

However, even though Harare Day isn’t a fixed national celebration, whenever it is held at HSC, the atmosphere in the stadium is electric. Besides the exciting matches, the event is filled with traditional music and dance performances. The stadium and its surroundings are also home to a variety of local food stalls, offering a taste of Zimbabwean culture. Because of the lively atmosphere, some even refer to it as the Harare Carnival, as the vibe is truly festive and full of joy.

All Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series Match:

• ZIM vs RSA 2025 1st T20I Tri-Series – David vs Goliath Battle Can the Underdogs Snatch a Ray of Hope?
• RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I Tri-Series – A High-Voltage Clash for Tempo Supremacy!
• ZIM vs NZ 2025 3rd T20I Tri-Series – After 10 years, who will win? Zimbabwe or New Zealand?
• ZIM vs RSA 2025 4th T20I Tri-Series – Undefeated South Africa is coming strong, how will Zimbabwe face the challenge?
• NZ vs RSA 2025 5th T20I Tri-Series – South Africa with a strong record against New Zealand will they show some weakness this time?
• ZIM vs NZ 2025 6th T20I Tri-Series – Will the Kiwis dominate once again or can Zimbabwe pull off a surprise?