SA Vs NZ: Henry And Duffy Help New Zealand Edge South Africa In T20I Tri Series
Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy took six wickets, leading New Zealand to a 21-run win over South Africa in the T20I Tri-Series.
Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy claimed six wickets between them, guiding New Zealand to a 21-run victory over South Africa in their opening match of the T20I Tri-Series at Harare Sports Club, defending a total of 173.
Henry's early breakthroughs (3/34) and Duffy's crucial strikes in the final overs (3/20) overwhelmed the Proteas, despite a spirited fightback led by George Linde.
This win marked a successful start to Rob Walter's coaching tenure with New Zealand, facing the team he previously coached.
Chasing 174, South Africa struggled at 111 for 7 in the 14th over. Linde (30 off 20) and Gerald Coetzee (17) then formed a 37-run partnership, keeping their hopes alive. With 31 needed from the last three overs, Linde mistimed a pull shot and was caught at deep mid-wicket off Duffy. Duffy then dismissed Coetzee on the next ball, sealing the victory and earning a well-deserved three-wicket haul.
Henry's new-ball spell set the tone earlier, including the key wicket of Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who had made a quick 27 but edged behind in the fourth over. Henry's bounce and movement troubled the South African top order, reducing them to 62 for 5 inside nine overs.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand posted 173 for 5, thanks to a remarkable fightback from Tim Robinson (75 not out) and debutant Bevon Jacobs (44), who added an unbroken 103-run stand for the sixth wicket. Their partnership rescued the BlackCaps from a precarious 70 for 5 in the 10th over, making it New Zealand's second-highest stand for the sixth wicket in T20Is.
Robinson showed composure and flair, hitting Coetzee for three sixes, including an impressive uppercut over backward point. Jacobs, playing his first game for New Zealand, rotated the strike effectively and punished loose deliveries, complementing Robinson perfectly.
Earlier, South Africa's bowlers struck regularly, with Kwena Maphaka, Gerald Coetzee, and Corbin Bosch chipping away. However, they couldn't contain the late surge, which proved decisive.
Pretorius, after a golden duck in the series opener, came out aggressively. He hit five boundaries in his 17-ball 27, giving the chase early momentum. But once Henry dismissed him, wickets fell quickly.
Rassie van der Dussen's run-out, a sharp piece of fielding involving Tom Seifert and Mitchell Santner, added to South Africa's troubles. The middle order failed to fire, and even Brevis and Linde's counter-attacks weren't enough.
With Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra unavailable due to MLC duties, New Zealand will be encouraged by the performance of their bench strength. Walter's new era has started with grit, control, and a win.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 173/5 (Tim Robinson 75 not out, Bevon Jacobs 44, Kwena Maphaka 2/38) beat South Africa 152 all out in 18.2 overs (Dewald Brevis 35, George Linde 30; Jacob Duffy 3/20, Matt Henry 3/34) by 21 runs.
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