NZ vs SA Final T20 Match Preview: New Zealand and South Africa will face off in the Final of the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series at Harare Sports Club, Harare, on July 27, 2025. The Kiwis remain unbeaten in the tournament and appear to be the most balanced team, while South Africa will aim to break their losing streak against them in this high-stakes clash.
Here’s a detailed preview of NZ vs SA Final T20I, including date, venue, team news, pitch report, key players, weather, and winning prediction.
Match Details – NZ vs SA Final T20I, 2025
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | New Zealand vs South Africa, Final T20I |
| Date | 26 July 2025 |
| Time | 4:30 PM IST / 1:00 PM Local Time |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Live Streaming | FanCode (India), SuperSport (South Africa) |
| Format | T20 International |
NZ vs SA Final T20 Match Preview and Team Analysis
New Zealand
New Zealand have dominated the tri-series, winning all their group matches, including two convincing victories over South Africa. Tim Seifert is in red-hot form with 166 runs in 4 games. He’s been backed well by Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Michael Bracewell. The Kiwis have a deep batting unit and a strong bowling attack.
Matt Henry leads the wicket-taking charts with 8 wickets in 3 matches. Ish Sodhi’s 4-wicket haul in the last game gives New Zealand another edge, especially against a South African side that struggles against spin.
Key Players:
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Tim Seifert – 75 runs in last match, top form
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Matt Henry – Consistent wicket-taker
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Ish Sodhi – X-factor spinner with 4/12 in the last game
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:
Mitchell Santner (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
South Africa
South Africa has won only against Zimbabwe in the series. Their top order has shown promise with Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis scoring quick runs, but they’ve failed to crack the Kiwi bowling unit. The Proteas lack bowling depth, and that might hurt them again in the final.
Senuran Muthusamy and Lungi Ngidi are among the few bowlers to show consistency. Nqabayomzi Peter may be a handy spin option on a pitch that gets slower through the game.
Key Players:
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Rubin Hermann – Leading scorer for SA
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Dewald Brevis – High-impact striker
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Senuran Muthusamy – Economical spinner with 2 wickets in last game
South Africa Predicted Playing XI:
Rassie van der Dussen (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
NZ vs SA: Pitch and Weather Report
Pitch Report – Harare Sports Club
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Pitch Type: Balanced, with early pace and later spin
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Average 1st Innings Score: 153
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Chasing Advantage: 4 of the 6 matches in this series have been won by the chasing team
Toss Prediction:
The team winning the toss should bowl first. The chasing trend has been strong at Harare, and dew is unlikely to be a factor
Weather Forecast – July 26
| Time | Temp | Rain | Wind | Cloud Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 PM | 24°C | 0 mm | 0.89 k/h | 0% |
| 3 PM | 22°C | 0 mm | 1.02 k/h | 0% |
| 6 PM | 15°C | 0 mm | 2.9 k/h | 0% |
NZ vs SA Match Prediction: South Africa Slightly Ahead
New Zealand have outclassed South Africa in every aspect so far in this series. With an in-form batting line-up, a sharp bowling attack, and a tactical edge, the Kiwis are well-positioned to clinch the title. South Africa’s hope rests on early wickets and a top-order charge, but the consistency and depth of New Zealand should prevail.
Prediction: New Zealand to win the final and lift the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025 trophy.
Read Also: NZ vs SA Final T20 Playing XI and Team News