Matt Henry Holds Nerve in Final Over as New Zealand Clinch Tri-Series in Harare

New Zealand capped off a flawless campaign with a dramatic three-run win over South Africa in the tri-series final in Harare, thanks to Matt Henry’s ice-cold final over under pressure. With six runs needed from the final six balls, South Africa had the momentum but not the nerve. Henry delivered a masterclass in death bowling to secure the title for the Kiwis.

South Africa’s chase of 181 was electric early on. Reeza Hendricks and Lhuan-dre Pretorius powered them to 92 without loss inside 10 overs. Pretorius, reinstated as opener, repaid the faith with a fluent 51 off 33 balls — his maiden T20I half-century. But once the opening pair departed, the innings wobbled.

From 92 for 0, South Africa stumbled to 131 for 4, with New Zealand tightening the screws. Despite a late burst from Dewald Brevis and George Linde, a disciplined last over from Henry — where he removed Brevis and Linde — sealed the deal. The final delivery needed a boundary, but Senuran Muthusamy swung and missed, sparking Kiwi celebrations.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 180 for 5 after choosing to bat. Openers Devon Conway (47) and Tim Seifert (30) got off to a blazing start, adding 75 runs in 8 overs. However, a mid-innings slowdown prevented a total that might have been closer to 200.

The standout with the bat was Rachin Ravindra, who dazzled with 47 off 27 balls. Dominating anything straying to the leg side, he struck boundaries with finesse and aggression alike, including two huge sixes off Muthusamy. His powerful wristwork lit up the middle overs and kept the scoreboard ticking.

South Africa, to their credit, were sharp in the field. They held onto three stunning catches — two in the deep and one sharp take by van der Dussen — which curtailed New Zealand’s final flourish. Lungi Ngidi was their most effective bowler, taking 2 for 24 and keeping things tight through his four overs.

Despite a late shift in momentum, South Africa’s inexperience showed at crucial junctures. Their eight wides and some poor shot selections under pressure proved costly.

With this victory, New Zealand lifted the tri-series trophy unbeaten, showcasing not just their power at the top, but also the depth, discipline, and composure to win tight contests.