After a confident start in the opening game, South Africa now face a tough challenge in New Zealand. The second T20I of the Zimbabwe Tri-Series 2025 is set to be played at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, July 16 at 4:30 PM IST. The Proteas already have one win under their belt, while the Black Caps are just getting started. This clash isn’t just about two points—it’s about setting the tempo for the rest of the tournament.
SA vs NZ: What We’ve Seen So Far
South Africa got their campaign underway with a hard-earned five-wicket win over Zimbabwe. They were rocked early with quick wickets, but Dewald Brevis brought his A-game to Harare.
Coming in at a tricky phase, he smashed 41 off 17 balls, including five massive sixes, completely shifting the momentum. It’s performances like these that remind you why Brevis is seen as the next big thing in South African cricket.
The bowlers did their part too. Lungi Ngidi’s control with the new ball, backed by George Linde’s calm middle overs, helped restrict Zimbabwe to 141. Overall, it was a tidy performance and a solid way to start the tri-series.
New Zealand Step In – Ready to Fire
New Zealand will take the field for the first time in this series. And though they haven’t played a game yet, don’t let that fool you. The squad is stacked with T20 pros who’ve just come off strong performances in MLC 2025.
Devon Conway returns to the top of the order in place of the injured Finn Allen. He’ll pair with Tim Seifert, forming a left-right combo that can both anchor and attack. The middle order is loaded too: Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, and Michael Bracewell—all capable of winning games single-handedly. In the bowling department, Ish Sodhi’s leg-spin will be key, especially on Harare’s little bit slow surface. Expect Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy to do the early breakthrough with the new ball
Pitch and Weather Report – Harare’s Trickery
The Harare Sports Club isn’t your typical flat T20 deck. It tends to help pacers early on with a bit of bounce and movement. But as the match goes on, the pitch dries out, bringing spinners into play.
Teams chasing often have an advantage here due to the slight evening dew, which can make gripping the ball tough in the second innings.
- Average First Innings Score: 151
- Weather: Bright and sunny with a top of 22°C, low humidity (35–40%), and gentle breeze – great for cricket.
SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
| Matches | SA Won | NZ Won | No Result |
| 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
While history leans heavily in South Africa’s favor, the last time these two met in a T20I was back in 2017. So this almost feels like a clean slate.
Predicted Playing XIs: South Africa vs New Zealand
South Africa (SA):
Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand (NZ):
Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke
SA vs NZ: Players to Watch Out For
Dewald Brevis – The game-changer. He showed how dangerous he can be in the last match. If he gets going again, NZ might be in for a long evening.
Rachin Ravindra – A quality all-rounder. He can contribute in every phase—batting, bowling, and fielding. In fantasy cricket, that’s gold.
Ish Sodhi – On this dry Harare surface, Sodhi could trouble the batters in the middle overs with his flight and spin.
SA vs NZ Dream11 Team & Match Prediction – Who Might Win?
SA vs NZ Dream11 Prediction – Fantasy Tips
Captain Pick: Rachin Ravindra
Vice-Captain Pick: Dewald Brevis Wicketkeepers: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tim Seifert
Batters: Dewald Brevis, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Rassie van der Dussen
All-rounders: George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Michael Bracewell
Bowlers: Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Lungi Ngidi
Let’s break it down by scenarios:
If South Africa Bat First
- Projected Score: 150–160
- Winner Prediction: New Zealand to chase it down with 4–5 wickets in hand.
If New Zealand Bat First
- Projected Score: 170–180
- Winner Prediction: New Zealand to win by 10–15 runs
Today’s Match Winner Prediction: New Zealand start as favorites, but don’t write off South Africa—they know these conditions better and have match-winners in their squad.
