Proteas ready to set the record straight against New Zealand before tri-series final
Image: Backpagepix
South Africa will get another crack at New Zealand when the two sides meet for the second time in the T20I tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, starting at 1pm.
Despite a 21-run defeat to the Black Caps in their first encounter, the Proteas have already secured a place in Saturday's final – also against the Black Caps – thanks to back-to-back wins over Zimbabwe. Tuesday's match now doubles up as both a tune-up for the final and a chance to right the wrongs from their earlier clash with the Kiwis.
South Africa were in control early in that game, reducing New Zealand to 70/5, but a resilient 103-run partnership between Tim Robinson and Bevon Jacobs flipped the script. Their stand proved the decisive factor, leaving Rassie van der Dussen's side frustrated and ultimately short of the 174-run target.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The world Test champions bounced back in style as they beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in their last outing on Sunday, setting themselves up perfectly to have a second bite at the Black Caps.
All-rounder Corbin Bosch admitted the team fell short in the field during the first encounter but remained confident they will bring a sharper edge to the rematch.
'It's something we pride ourselves on — to be ruthless at all stages of the game,' Bosch said in the build-up.
'We took our foot off the paddle, especially in the field towards the back end of that game, and gave away some easy runs, along with a costly dropped chance that may have swung the game even more in our favour.
'But we've addressed it, and I think in our last game we were pretty ruthless with the ball—and we will need to do more of the same.'
After a string of strong performances, George Linde is all business as he gears up for the final group stage clash of the Tri-Series against New Zealand tomorrow. 🇿🇦🔥#WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/EL8KyqQh9i — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 21, 2025
The ongoing tour has also given head coach Shukri Conrad his first chance to hand extended opportunities to several fringe and promising young talents, allowing them to stake a claim for future selection.
Bosch, along with emerging players like Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, and Lhuandre Pretorius, has impressed so far and could play key roles in the remaining matches of the tournament.
As one of the senior bowlers in the squad, Bosch believes the growing depth in South African cricket will only benefit the national team as they build towards the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in Sri Lanka and India.
'Shuks has tried to find some good combinations. The goal at the end of the day is the T20 World Cup coming up next year,' Bosch continued.
'I think he is trying to fine-tune all the combinations. This is his first white-ball tour and series as a coach, and he is trying to find his feet in that sense.
'He is meticulously planning how he wants to go about his teams and how he plans to set up his sides moving forward — obviously looking ahead to next year's tournament. He is trying to find the best combination of batters and bowlers, and he is doing a good job so far. Everyone is buying into his plans, and we are in a good space.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Disappointment for SA swimmers on opening day of Singapore world champs
Gallagher wasn't too pleased with her swim, but happy with the speed shown in her opening 50 metres. 'I didn't realise that I had turned third, that's really cool, so I'm very happy with my front-end speed,' she said after the race. 'I think it's the fastest I've been out in the 100 before and it felt very comfortable and very chilled, so I think that's a very good sign for the 50, which is still in a couple of days. 'I just have to switch off from the race. Even though it didn't go the way I wanted it to, there are some good things to take away and look forward to the rest of the racing which is the 100 free and the 50 fly. 'There's still a long way to go. It's day one of the competition so I'm looking forward to the rest of my races and we'll see what we can produce. Hopefully the 50 fly will be a better outcome than this one.' Other South Africans in action in the heats earlier in the day were Aimee Canny, who finished 19th overall in the 200m individual medley heats after swimming a time of 2:12.70 and Chris Smith, who finished 25th overall in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:00.85. Hannah Robertson was 27th in the 400m freestyle heats in 4:22.69, while in the men's event, Matthew Caldwell was 39th in 4:01.45. The South African women's 4x100m freestyle relay team of twin sisters, Georgia and Olivia Nel, Cailtin de Lange and Hannah Robertson finished sixth in their heat in 3:45.33 and did not progress to the final. The World Aquatics Championships in Singapore continue on Monday, with Pieter Coetzé kicking off his campaign in the 100m backstroke while Meder will be back in action in the 100m breaststroke, Matt Sates in the 200m freestyle, and Catherine van Rensburg in the 1500m freestyle.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Celebrating Sharpeville's soccer supermom
SHARPEVILLE.- With August around the corner, Sedibeng Ster Sport takes a look at women who play a huge role in sports in the Vaal. August is Women's Month, celebrating the strength of ordinary women in the community for their outstanding contributions in various fields. Orlando Pirates midfield striker Relebohile Mofokeng's mother, Naome, is one of the women who deserves flowers for the role she plays in her son's football career. When 'Rele' was still young, playing for a local amateur soccer team, Celeb Youth Academy in Sharpeville, Naome used to come to watch him. This was long before it became fashionable for mothers or parents to get involved in their children's football careers. Unlike others, Naome didn't wait for her son to play for these so-called elite development academies to support him. She supported the boy while he was still playing on the dusty soccer grounds. Sedibeng Ster Sport still has memories of her running up and down the touchline when Rele was only 12 years old, playing at George Thabe Stadium or James and Pepsi soccer grounds. She was always there, not only to watch him, but to also support the rest of the team. She is passionate about football. The truth is she didn't only show interest in his son's football career when he played for Orlando Pirates, but long before Rele became a household name in South African football. We take a bow, Mrs Mofokeng, you deserve flowers. She was always there since Rele's father, Sechaba Mofokeng, at the time, was also an active soccer player, playing in the First Division League. Relebohile's parents launched the Relebohile Mofokeng Foundation to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds. They hosted the 1st Annual Relebohile Mofokeng Tournament, which came to an end last weekend in his hometown in Sharpeville. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Naome said that apart from being her son's biggest supporter, she is passionate about football. 'I love football, and grew up in the football community. I support every child who is involved in sports in the community,' she said. Sedibeng Ster Sport will continue to look for other women who have contributed to the development of sports within the Vaal community.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Mabasa aims for goal improvement as Orlando Pirates prepare for new season
Tshegofatso Mabasa is ready to embrace the demands of the new season, relying on the strong sense of brotherhood within the Orlando Pirates squad to achieve success. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The passage of time has taught Tshegofatso Mabasa to embrace pressure and brotherhood, so that's why he's focused on helping Orlando Pirates do well next season. Mabasa scored fifteen goals in 48 games last season, and that was an average return after he netted nineteen goals in 33 matches the season before. So, as the new season beckons, Mabasa will be eager to improve his numbers upfront by contributing to as many goals as he possibly can for the team. However, the 28-year-old admits that he's not fazed by the responsibility as it's part and parcel of the job. 'The older I get, the less worried I am about pressure,' the striker said during the premiere of Pirates' docu-series Giants, last week. 'You can't perform well without pressure.' Just 2 days to go until Giants hit your screens ☠️ 📆 Sunday, 27 July 📺 21:00 on SuperSport & Mzansi Magic ⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways#giantsondstv — Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 25, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Being able to handle pressure hasn't come naturally for Mabasa. He has to feed off the support of his teammates and technical team as well. As such, when he went through a rough patch last season, resulting in him losing his place in the starting berth, it was his replacement, Evidence Makgopa, who offered him more support. So, that's why Mabasa doesn't look at the rest of the strikers at Pirates as his direct competitors, but rather as brothers. 'One thing about us is that there's healthy competition. You can actually see when we are doing finishing drills after training, the amount of support and love we share (is there),' he said. 'Take Evidence, for example, he's one person that knows almost everything that I've to deal with last season. Yet that time he was playing ahead of me. 'He supported me, and was there to try and lift me up. He'll be the first one to areye ngwana (let's go, kid). So, that's the sort of thing. I'd do the same thing for him as well. 'So that shows the relationship we have in the team. I think when 'Radio' (Boitumelo Radiopane) scored his first goal, a penalty, everyone ran to him, including myself.' The camaraderie within the Pirates teams runs in the entire group as the new players have quickly fitted in like a glove as well, following an exclusive tour of Spain. 'I think the trip to Spain gave us a chance to integrate them, and maybe away from all the noise in the country at that time,' said Mabasa of the adaptation of the new players. 'For us to be away, and be given that opportunity, I think it worked well because you can see how they performed even in the friendly games. 'Look at (Sipho) Mbule and (Oswin) Appollis' performances in the friendlies. It's just now for them to come back home, and do it here. We believe in them and they have our support.' Mabasa and Co have new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who has to support them and be supported as well. Ouaddou's job is cut out for him as he has to make the team tick on the field, following the arrival of eleven new players, while getting results as well. The Moroccan-born coach replaces Jose Riveiro who won five trophies and bagged three successive runners-up spots in the league during his three-year reign. Mabasa, though, believes that the former Fulham defender will succeed at the club as he hasn't done much to change the foundation that has been built by his predecessor. 'I have noticed that he's a demanding coach, but he loves his players at the same time,' said Mabasa of his impression about Ouaddou. 'He's encouraging, and quite similar to coach Riveiro. There's not a lot that coach Ouaddou is trying to change – it's probably about defending set-pieces and dealing with transition. 'He's just trying to improve on the areas that we lacked last season, and we feel that's mostly from set-pieces, especially looking at the game we lost against Pyramids.' The camaraderie within the Pirates team runs in the entire group as the new players have quickly fitted in like a glove as well, following an exclusive tour of Spain. 'I think the trip to Spain gave us a chance to integrate them, and maybe away from all the noise in the country at that time,' said Mabsa of the adaptation of the new players. 'For us to be away, and be given that opportunity, I think it worked well because you can see how they performed even in the friendly games. 'Look at (Sipho) Mbule and (Osowin) Appollis' performances in the friendlies. It's just now for them to come back home, and do it here. We believe in them and they have our support.' Mabasa and Co have new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who has to support them and be supported as well. Ouaddou's job is cut out for him as he has to make the team tick on the field, following the arrival of 11 new players, while getting results as well. The Moroccan born coach replaces Jose Riveiro who won five trophies and bagged three successive runners-up spots in the league during his three year reign. Mabasa, though, believes that the former Fulham defender will succeed at the club as he hasn't done much to change the foundation that has been built by his predecessor. 'I have noticed that he's a demanding coach, but he loves his players at the same time,' said Mabasa of his impression about Ouaddou. 'He's encouraging, and quite similar to coach Riveiro. There's not a lot that coach Ouaddou is trying to change - it's probably about defending setpieces and dealing with transition. 'He's just trying to improve on the areas that we lacked last season, and we feel that's mostly from set-pieces, especially looking at the game we lost against Pyramids.'
