Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025 2nd Match Results

Updated：New Zealand beat South Africa by 21 runs.

New Zealand kicked off their new era under coach Rob Walter with a solid win, ironically, against his old team South Africa! After a shaky start at 70 for 5, Tim Robinson (75*) and debutant Bevon Jacobs (44*) turned the match around with a fiery 103-run stand. They cranked out 43 runs in the final three overs to post 173, their joint second-highest T20I total against the Proteas. South Africa, chasing 174, never quite got the big partnership they needed despite a late burst from George Linde.

The Rob Walter era starts with a win. Scorecard |https://t.co/l3wSeLKNuJ #SAvNZ #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/4zfkV4Aj5b

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 16, 2025

South Africa’s innings saw sparks but no fireworks. Dewald Brevis (35) and Linde (30) stitched together the best stand at 39 runs, but they were always playing catch-up. Gerald Coetzee, back after months of injury, struggled with control and gave away 39 runs. The Kiwi bowlers especially Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy—were right on the money, bagging six wickets between them. South Africa needed 31 from the last 18 balls, but Duffy’s double strike ended all hopes. In the end, New Zealand sealed it by 21 runs, and probably with a wink at their coach’s former gig.

New Zealand edge past South Africa in Harare with a clinical display 👌

📸: @ZimCricketv #SAvNZ 📝: https://t.co/kKoMU0Ot2C pic.twitter.com/YOkpKnBO0T

— ICC (@ICC) July 16, 2025

RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I – Return to Harare Sports Club After 14 Years

The last time South Africa and New Zealand faced each other in a T20I at Harare Sports Club was 14 years ago, ending in a 1-1 draw. In recent T20I encounters, New Zealand has a slight edge with 5 wins to South Africa’s 4. Both teams are closely matched, but considering the pitch conditions at HSC, South Africa might need to strategize more effectively to come out on top.

RSA vs NZ – Why the Balance Tilts in New Zealand’s Favor

The primary factor working against South Africa is the pitch conditions at HSC. The hard and flat surface leads to consistent bounce, which reduces the variation in deliveries. South Africa’s pace bowlers like Rabada and Jansen rely on the pitch to generate movement; however, at HSC, they might find it challenging to extract that extra bounce. While Rabada can bowl speeds exceeding 150 km/h, maintaining such pace consistently can be taxing. Ngidi and Nortje also possess pace but lack the same level of consistency. This scenario presents a significant challenge for South Africa’s bowling attack, emphasizing the need for strategic variations and pace control.

RSA vs NZ – How New Zealand Can Capitalize

New Zealand’s bowling attack, both pace and spin, is well-suited to the conditions at HSC. While the pitch doesn’t offer much assistance, Trent Boult’s ability to swing the ball and vary his pace can be crucial. Unlike Rabada and Jansen, who focus on speed and aggression, Boult’s skill lies in his subtle variations and control. This makes him a key player for New Zealand, as he can maintain pressure and exploit any slight movement available.

RSA vs NZ – South Africa’s Strategy to Overcome the Odds

Given the pitch conditions, both teams’ bowlers will face challenges in generating movement. For South Africa to succeed, they must focus on controlling the game’s tempo. Utilizing Rabada and Nortje at the start with aggressive short-pitched deliveries can unsettle New Zealand’s top order. Incorporating variations like slower balls, cutters, and yorkers will be essential to break the rhythm of New Zealand’s batsmen. Additionally, employing spin in the middle overs can disrupt the flow and provide breakthroughs. By consistently altering the pace and line, South Africa can hope to regain control and challenge New Zealand’s dominance.

RSA vs NZ – The Key to Victory Lies in Controlling the Tempo

As previously discussed, disrupting New Zealand’s rhythm is vital for South Africa’s success. Conversely, New Zealand aims to establish and maintain their tempo throughout the match. This highlights the importance of tempo control in this encounter. Both teams are among the top-ranked sides globally, with world-class players in their ranks. While the batting departments are formidable, the outcome of the match will heavily depend on the bowlers’ ability to dictate the game’s pace. Considering recent form, New Zealand’s consistency gives them a slight edge.

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RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I – Key Player

South Africa’s Key Players to Watch

• Quinton de Kock – Is South Africa’s explosive opener, with 2,277 T20I runs at a strike rate of 137.3, making him the second-highest scorer for his country. In the last three T20Is against New Zealand, he scored over 40 twice, showing good understanding of their bowling. Harare’s pitch remains predictable in the first six overs, perfectly suiting de Kock’s aggressive style to establish quick momentum. Although he faces challenges against left-arm pacers like Boult, his high success rate on short-pitched and boundary shots early on makes him critical for South Africa’s fast starts.
• Aiden Markram – Leads South Africa’s middle order and is pivotal in controlling the innings tempo. He has scored 1,180 T20I runs at an average of 35.7, including a 68 against New Zealand in 2022. Markram has averaged over 30 runs in two matches at Harare, matching his steady technical style with the pitch conditions. Beyond batting, his part-time off-spin is useful to counter right-handers like Allen and Mitchell, especially when the pitch starts to show wear. His dual skills provide balance and stability in both innings phases.
• Kagiso Rabada – Is South Africa’s spearhead fast bowler, with 71 T20I wickets at an average of 27.1. He has taken 7 wickets against New Zealand in previous encounters and is particularly lethal in the Powerplay overs. Harare’s early bounce and pace suits Rabada’s combination of speed and bounce to challenge batsmen’s timing. He has devised specific plans for New Zealand’s openers, dismissing Allen twice in a 2023 match, stifling New Zealand’s scoring flow. Rabada is central to South Africa’s ability to gain early control with the ball.
• Marco Jansen – Is one of South Africa’s most promising all-rounders, offering left-arm pace bowling and useful lower-order batting. In T20Is, he averages 10+ runs per match and regularly takes wickets, excelling on slower pitches where his slower bouncers and back-of-length deliveries are effective. In a 2024 match against New Zealand, Jansen took 3 wickets and scored 23 runs, a key contribution to victory. Harare’s dry surface enhances his bowling angle and movement, making him a challenging opponent for New Zealand’s batsmen.

New Zealand’s Key Players to Watch

• Devon Conway -Is a cornerstone opener for New Zealand. In the 2023 T20Is against South Africa, he scored 56 runs and has shown excellent ability to handle right-arm fast bowlers. During the 2024-25 IPL season with Chennai Super Kings, Conway scored 924 runs at a strike rate of 141.28, proving his consistency under high-pressure conditions. Harare Sports Club’s pitch is initially flat and predictable, which suits Conway’s precise rhythm and ability to build innings with calculated shots. Facing South African bowlers like Rabada and Jansen, his left-handed stance and skill against pace bowling will be crucial for New Zealand’s scoring momentum.
• Trent Boult – Is key for New Zealand’s new-ball attack. In T20Is against South Africa, he once took 3 wickets in a match including twice dismissing their openers early (Centurion 2016). Boult has 83 T20I wickets at an average of 21.43 and an economy rate under 8, making him one of the most consistent new-ball bowlers globally. The slightly bouncy conditions at Harare favor his ability to use vertical bounce and angles to trouble batsmen early on. His left-arm angle also naturally challenges South Africa’s predominantly right-handed batting lineup, making him New Zealand’s first line of defense.
• Ish Sodhi – Is one of New Zealand’s most threatening spinners in T20 cricket, with 126 career wickets—team’s highest. The dry conditions at Harare later in the game amplify his effectiveness by helping the ball grip and turn. In a 2022 T20I against South Africa, Sodhi took 2 for 22, restricting their middle order. He excels against aggressive middle-order batsmen like Miller and Markram, using variations and flight to disrupt timing. If New Zealand bats second, Sodhi’s spell during the middle overs could be decisive in containing South Africa’s late scoring surge.
• Daryl Mitchell – Plays a vital all-round role, providing stability with the bat in the middle order and adding variety with his bowling. He has three T20I half-centuries and scored a rapid 47 against South Africa in 2021. On a pitch like Harare’s, which slows slightly as the game progresses, Mitchell’s ability to control tempo and rotate the strike will be crucial. His bowling complements the pace attack by offering slower balls and changes in pace that challenge batsmen’s rhythm, making him a key tactical asset during the middle overs.

RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I – Possible Squad List

RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I – Preview & Match Details:

Match Name: Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series

Match Date: 16th Jul 2025

Match Time: 04:30 PM IST

Competing Teams: South Africa vs New Zealand 2nd T20I (RSA vs NZ)

Venue: Harare Sports Club Cricket Stadium, Harare

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

RSA vs NZ 2025 2nd T20I – Venue History&Analysis: Harare Sports Club Cricket Stadium

Stadium Capacity: Approximately 10,000 spectators

Stadium Address: 3 Lanark Road, Harare, Zimbabwe

Stadium History:

Harare Sports Club is located in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. It is currently the main venue for international cricket matches in Zimbabwe and serves as the home ground for the Zimbabwe national cricket team. The stadium boasts a history of over 120 years. One of its most distinctive features is that the entire ground is surrounded by Jacaranda trees. Every year from October to December, the stadium is enveloped in a beautiful sea of purple blossoms. Additionally, Harare Sports Club maintains a traditional British-style membership system, where applicants must be recommended and sponsored by four existing members who have held membership for at least one year before they can apply to join the club.

Stadium Features:

The Harare Sports Club pitch offers a relatively balanced contest between bat and ball. The ground is flat and hard, providing bowlers with consistent bounce and maintaining ball speed. However, because the bounce is relatively predictable, technically skilled batsmen can usually read the ball well, and spin bowlers have limited advantage. Still, spinners often come on between overs 10 to 20 to disrupt the batsmen’s rhythm. While the pitch does not provide significant assistance to spinners, their presence can slow down the scoring rate by breaking up the momentum.

Advantage Analysis:

Based on the pitch characteristics, New Zealand is likely to have a slight advantage. Although both teams possess top-class fast bowlers South Africa’s Rabada and Jansen and New Zealand’s Boult the pitch offers limited variation for fast bowlers to exploit. Boult, however, is particularly adept at using the early bounce and angles of the pitch to pressure batsmen. Moreover, South African batsmen like Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock have relatively limited experience against New Zealand’s spinners, which could affect their performance. Therefore, the expected win probability for this RSA vs NZ match is roughly 40% for RSA and 60% for NZ.

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?
• 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?
• NZ vs RSA 2025 Final T20I – Can South Africa Make Effective Adjustments After Losing to New Zealand?