New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights: The last group match of the T20 tri-series in Harare saw a powerful all-round performance by New Zealand. They defeated Zimbabwe by 60 runs, with Ish Sodhi, Tim Seifert, and Rachin Ravindra putting on a show. This win helped New Zealand finish at the top of the points table.
Let’s take a closer look at how New Zealand dominated both with the bat and ball.
First Innings – Seifert and Ravindra Shine for New Zealand
New Zealand decided to bat first after winning the toss. Although opener Tim Robinson got out early, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra built a strong partnership. The pitch was slow, but both batsmen played aggressively.
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Seifert scored 75 runs from just 45 balls.
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Ravindra hit 63 off 39 balls.
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Together, they added 108 runs for the second wicket.
By the end of the PowerPlay, New Zealand had already scored 57/1. Ravindra was the more aggressive of the two, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls. He attacked Zimbabwe’s bowlers early and kept the momentum going.
Seifert followed closely and got his 12th T20I fifty in 33 deliveries. Both players ensured New Zealand had a solid foundation.
Middle Overs – Quick Wickets, but New Zealand Fight Back
Zimbabwe finally broke the partnership in the 13th over when Tinotenda Maposa got Ravindra out. He also dismissed Mark Chapman in the same over.
Soon after:
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Richard Ngarava dismissed Seifert on 75.
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Ngarava also picked up Bevon Jacobs on the next ball.
This collapse of 4 wickets for 26 runs slowed down the run rate. However, Michael Bracewell stepped up. He played a valuable knock of 26 runs off 16 balls with 2 boundaries and a six.
Thanks to his effort, New Zealand reached a strong total of 190/6 in their 20 overs.
Top Scores for New Zealand:
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Tim Seifert – 75 (45 balls)
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Rachin Ravindra – 63 (39 balls)
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Michael Bracewell – 26* (16 balls)
Best Bowler for Zimbabwe:
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Richard Ngarava – 4 wickets for 34 runs
Second Innings – Sodhi Destroys Zimbabwe’s Chase
Zimbabwe’s reply never got going. New Zealand brought in Ish Sodhi very early in the innings, and the decision worked perfectly.
Sodhi bowled with accuracy and spin. He got three wickets in the fifth over alone, breaking Zimbabwe’s top order.
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Zimbabwe lost 4 wickets for just 38 runs in the PowerPlay.
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Matt Henry also got the key wicket of Sikandar Raza, trapping him LBW for 9.
From there, Zimbabwe never recovered.
The only fight came from:
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Tony Munyonga – 40 (30 balls)
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Tashinga Musekiwa – 21 (21 balls)
They added 51 runs for the fifth wicket, but Sodhi returned and ended that stand too. After that, the lower order fell quickly.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 130 in 18.5 overs.
Top Scores for Zimbabwe:
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Tony Munyonga – 40 (30 balls)
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Dion Myers – 22
Top Bowlers for New Zealand:
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Ish Sodhi – 4 wickets for 12 runs
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Matt Henry – 2 wickets for 34 runs
Match Summary
New Zealand 190/6 in 20 overs
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Seifert 75, Ravindra 63
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Ngarava 4/34
Zimbabwe 130 all out in 18.5 overs
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Munyonga 40, Myers 22
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Sodhi 4/12, Henry 2/34
Result: New Zealand won by 60 runs
Why This Win Matters
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This was New Zealand’s third straight win in the tri-series.
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They now top the points table with 6 points from 3 matches.
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Zimbabwe, the hosts, struggled with their batting throughout the series.
New Zealand’s strong batting performance, along with excellent spin bowling from Sodhi, makes them the clear favorites going into the final. New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
Key Performers
Ish Sodhi: The star of the match. His 4 for 12 was his career-best in T20Is. He broke Zimbabwe’s batting backbone early.New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
Tim Seifert: Gave a strong start and batted with confidence. His 75 runs included powerful shots and clever placements. New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
Rachin Ravindra: Played fearlessly and attacked Zimbabwe’s bowlers from the start. His knock gave New Zealand early control. New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
What’s Next?
New Zealand will now face Pakistan Champions in their next match in Leicester on Friday, July 25. With three wins in three games, they will be high on confidence. New Zealand vs Zimbabwe T20 Highlights
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