Matt Henry blazes with Crucial 2 Wickets as New Zealand won by 3 runs in a last over thriller and lifted the Tri- Series trophy

@Matt Henry's reaction after taking Brevis wicket in Tri-Series Final vs South Africa

 

Opening Summary:

On 26 July 2025, New Zealand beat South Africa by only 3 runs in the final of the Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series played at the Harare Sports Club. The Black Caps bowled well after scoring a competitive total of 180 for 5 and to win by a nail biting final over which Matt Henry held his nerve to give the Black Caps a memorable victory.

New Zealand Innings (180/5)

South Africa won the toss and elected to field and they believed that they   would chase any total. In turn, the batters of New Zealand were unhesitating

• Tim Seifert (30 off 28) and Devon Conway (47 off 31) made a good start and they made the most of the obligatory powerplay to have 52 without loss in the first 6 overs.Their opening partnership of 75 runs gave them the right platform

• Having been dismissed by a stunning catch in the covers by Rassie van der Dussen, Conway stepped on the gas but he was caught by Lungi Ngidi at the start of the 12th over

• The No. 3 Rachin Ravindra played a fluent-scoring knock of 47 off 27 balls (2 sixes, 4 fours), only to be stumped by Nandre Burger, as his century was on the cards

• Michael Bracewell (15 off 12) and Daryl Mitchell (16, 14)* provided the late runs that were important as lower-order hitters. Extras too were surprisingly big contributing with New Zealand giving away 19 extras to make the total 180

In brief, the innings was a combination of solid alliances, late hitting and tail end effort to post a stiff target.

i

South Africa Chase: (177/6) 

South Africa started off flying when in pursuit of 181:

• The teenage sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius continued his quick-fire run as he hammered 51 runs off 35 balls with two sixes and five fours as South Africa raced to 92/1 in the ninth over.

• His resignation brought about a mini-collapse. After that Reeza Hendricks (37 off 31) fell next, edging Zak Foulkes to Conway at deep square leg.

• Captain Rassie van der Dussen (18 off 17) was dismissed in the 15th over and then barely one over later Rubin Hermann (11) walked back to the dressing room as the New Zealand seamers piled the pressure on the South Africans

• The Proteas still had hope with two young middle-order batsmen; George Linde (10) and Dewald Brevis (31 off 16) at the crease, Brevis hitting his way towards the target with ruthless hitting, swinging the pendulum back briefly

  Click on Image Below

  and Wait For 10 Seconds to Continue

  
  

  
  

  
  
  Create same add Box

by the last over, South Africa required only 7 runs with only 6 wickets in hand and the chase seemed achievable.

Death Overs Drama: The Last Over Heroics by Henry:

• New Zealand's Fast Bowler, Matt Henry, was given the last over of the game, the most high-pressured role of the match:

• with 7 Require off the last 6 balls and Henry gave a focused and strategic over.

• Then on the second ball, Brevis was lofted to deep mid-wicket, but a stunning boundary catch by Michael Bracewell juggling on the boundary rope saw him off and the pendulum swinging in the direction of New Zealand

• Daryl Mitchell took a spectacular diving two-handed catch at long on on the following ball off George Linde removing him and leaving the equation at 3 runs to win off 2 balls.

• 2 runs were conceded on a dropped catch on the next ball and one run was needed off the Final ball.

• Senuran Muthusamy walked down the track and failed to connect with the slow delivery of Henry.The bails went up and New Zealand won the match-shielding only three runs in that over of theirs

Henry 2/19 in 3 overs, became the most economical bowler of New Zealand and earned the title of the Player of the Match, as well as Player of the Series

Key Performers:

• Devon Conway & Rachin Ravindra: they scored 47 runs each, and they were the backbone of the innings with a clear head and calmness

• Matt Henry: had saved 7 runs in the last over, bagging crucial wickets and delivering flawless death-over strategies; won Player of the Match and Series

• Michael Bracewell & Daryl Mitchell: made two spectacular catches under pressure which turned the match in favor of New Zealand in crucial moments

• Lhuan-dre Pretorius: opened his Tri-Series final account with a sizzling 50, and landed up with a decent attempt to give chase which ended up a few runs short

• Dewald Brevis: a strong finish of 31 off 16 balls carried the chase to the end until the dismissal of Bracewell ended the chase

  Click on Image Below

  and Wait For 10 Seconds to Continue

  
  

  
  

  
  
  Create same add Box

Turning Points Tactical Insights:

• Seifert- Conway start: NZ got the boost and balance in the game through the 75 run stand with Seifert and Conway bludgeoning at more than 9 runs per over

• Extras out of the field: The South African bowlers gave away 19 extras and in such a tight game, it played its part.

• The scorching fifty of Pretorius: South Africa could have easily won the match had they maintained such a style after the 13th over.

• The last over of Henry: A lesson in pressure bowling- variety, action and psychological resistance.

• Brilliance in the field: The two catches which defined the match: the juggling of Bracewell and the athletic last-gasp catch by Mitchell.

Responses & Background:

• Matt Henry, who had grabbed the heroics in the last over, commended the mentality of the team: As a team we have been playing very good cricket… proud to get over the line in such a tight match

• In a philosophical reaction, South Africa captain Rassie van der Dussen said: “It was a game of millimetres… young guys came in and learnt a lot despite the result”

• New Zealand ended the Tri-Series with 5 wins from 5 matches, portraying their consistency and supremacy throughout the tournament

  Click on Image Below

  and Wait For 10 Seconds to Continue

  
  

  
  

  
  
  Create same add Box

Series Implications:

• New Zealand lifted the 2025 Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series trophy in a thrilling manner.

• Matt Henry was unanimously declared the Player of the Series because of his key roles.

• South Africa, the runners, presented some promising young prospects in Pretorius and Brevis, and have a bright future regardless of the pain announced

• Zimbabwe were unlucky to have not won a game in the series and their performance was poor even though they were the hosts

Time Line of Key Moments:

Phase                                        Highlight

Powerplay (Overs 1-6)          NZ were off to a great start with 52/0.

Middle overs (7-16)               Conway & Seifert were replaced, Ravindra steadied                                                                             the innings.

Death overs (17-20)             Lower-order accelerated; extra runs bumped up total                                                                            to 180/5.

South Africa Chase              Pretorius fifty almost gave chase to South Africa but                                                                           SA  slowed.

Final over drama                Henry took a stunning 7 off 6 with two match winning                                                            catches. 🎉 Conclusion:

It was a nail-biter of a match, and New Zealand won (by a mere 3 runs) by a small margin: the extras, fielding masterclass and textbook death bowling. The fielders agility and the final over bowling by Matt Henry gave the difference in a day, where every single play mattered. New Zealand were the unpunished winners whereas South Africa will feel the pain of the missed chance but will be happy with the potential displayed by its youngsters. An unforgettable final that confirmed why T20 cricket is uncertain and thrilling.

Click on Image Below

and Wait For 10 Seconds to Continue

Create same add Box

Brief Scores: 

New Zealand Innings: 180/5 (20 Overs) Devon Conway 47 off 31 Balls (6 Fours & 1 Six), Rachin Ravindra 47 off 27 Balls (4 Fours & 2 Sixes)

South Africa Bowling: Lungi Ngidi 2/24 (4 Overs), Kwena Mphaka 1/35 (4 Overs)

South Africa Innings: 177/6 (20 Overs) Lhuan-dre Pretorius 51 off 35 Balls (5 Fours & 2 Sixes), Reeza Hendricks 37 off 31 Balls (4 Sixes)

New Zealand Bowling: Matt Henry 2/19 (3 Overs), Adam Milne 1/27 (4 Overs)

Player of the Match & Series: Matt Henry

Result: New Zealand Won by 3 runs