๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐๐
South Africa
New Zealand
New Zealand will face South Africa in the 2nd match of the Twenty20 Tri-Series at Harare Sports Club. South Africa will come into this game with momentum after beating Zimbabwe in the Tri-series opener. On the other hand, New Zealand will play their first T20I since March, where they defeated Pakistan 4-1 in a five-match series.
This will be the first T20I between the two sides in over 7 years. The last time they met in this format was back in February 2017. South Africa has the better record in recent head-to-head T20Is, winning 4 of the last 5 matches against New Zealand.
New Zealand have looked stronger overall in their last 5 T20Is, winning 4 of them. South Africa has 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no result in the same period. In the last 5 T20Is between these teams, 4 matches were won by the side batting first.
New Zealand have a more experienced and settled opening pair in Devon Conway and Tim Seifert, while South Africa's openers include a debutant in Pretorius.
The betting tip is...
Highest Opening Partnership - New Zealand
61 %
39 %
South AfricaNew ZealandSouth Africa will enter the match with a balanced squad despite missing several first-choice players. Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller and Marco Jansen will not be part of the Tri-Series. Rassie van der Dussen led the side and won the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe.
Dewald Brevis will return to the T20I setup for the first time since 2023 and scored 41 off 17. Rubin Hermann top-scored with 47 off 37 in the 143-run chase. George Linde took 3/10 in his 3-over spell while Ngidi and Burger took 1 each.
Uncapped players Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Senuran Muthusamy and Corbin Bosch all made their T20I debuts. Lhuan-dre Pretorius opened the batting and also kept wickets.
Brevis, Burger and Ngidi are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rassie van der Dussen (c), Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Nqaba Peter, Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.
Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand in the Tri-Series. Devon Conway will return to the squad, replacing injured Finn Allen. Conway has not played a T20I for New Zealand since the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Mitchell Hay, Tim Robinson and James Neesham will join the squad as additional options. They will provide cover for Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, who will be playing in the MLC final. Kane Williamson has opted out of the tour, while Lockie Ferguson has been rested. Kyle Jamieson will not be part of the squad as he awaits the birth of his child.
New Zealand will have experienced names like Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell and the skipper in the bowling department.
Milne, Santner and Conway are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Hay, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Will OโRourke and Jacob Duffy.
New Zealand will have the edge at the top with Devon Conway and Tim Seifert likely to open. Both are experienced T20 batters and have played in various conditions across the world. South Africa opened with debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius alongside Reeza Hendricks in the first match, but the debutant fell for a golden duck.ย
With Conway returning to the T20I side and Seifert bringing solid form, New Zealandโs opening pair looks more settled. South Africaโs top order lacks experience, especially in these conditions. New Zealand will aim to make a steady start and is more likely to build a stronger opening stand.
Their top two have better match awareness and are in better rhythm than South Africaโs openers, coming from successful campaigns in MLC 2025.
