New Zealand secured a commanding eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the T20 Tri-Series on July 18, 2025, at Harare Sports Club. As per ESPN Cricinfo, their clinical performance showcased strong bowling and batting efforts. This victory boosted their net run rate to 1.919, strengthening their position in the tournament.
Zimbabwe struggled to post a competitive total, managing only 120/7 in 20 overs. Matt Henry’s fiery 3/26 and tight spin bowling restricted the hosts. Devon Conway’s unbeaten 59 guided New Zealand to chase the target in just 13.5 overs.
According to Cricbuzz, New Zealand’s depth in both departments was evident. Despite early challenges, their composure shone through. This match analysis dives into nine key moments that defined the game.
The article uses insights from BBC Sports and Aaj Tak Sports for a comprehensive breakdown. Read on for detailed highlights, stats, and assumptions about the match’s impact.
New Zealand’s Bowling Dominance
Matt Henry struck early, dismissing Brian Bennett for 21. His short ball tactic worked brilliantly, finishing with 3/26. According to Wikipedia, Henry’s pace troubled Zimbabwe’s top order.
Zimbabwe managed only 39/1 in the powerplay. Henry’s wickets in the middle overs slowed their momentum. He ended with a caught-and-bowled dismissal.
As per Cricbuzz, his economy rate was just 6.5. This performance built on his 3/34 against South Africa. Henry’s consistency is boosting New Zealand’s campaign.
Spinners Stifle Zimbabwe
New Zealand’s spinners took control after the powerplay. Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra claimed one wicket each. They conceded only 43 runs in nine overs.
Zimbabwe scored just 61/2 by the 10th over. Ravindra’s stumping of Clive Madande was a turning point. As per ESPN Cricinfo, spin exposed Zimbabwe’s weaknesses.
The trio’s tight lines limited boundary scoring. Santner’s catch drop didn’t cost much. Their efforts set up an easy chase.
Zimbabwe’s Middle-Order Collapse
Zimbabwe’s middle order crumbled under pressure. From 61/2, they slumped to 98/6 in 17 overs. Wessly Madhevere’s 36 was the top score.
Ryan Burl fell to a reverse-sweep off Bracewell. Sikandar Raza’s leading edge ended his stay. According to BBC Sports, regular wickets halted Zimbabwe’s progress.
The hosts managed only 21 runs in the last three overs. New Zealand’s bowlers kept the pressure on. This collapse made 120 a below-par total.
Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Team Match Scorecard, 3rd Match at Harare, ZIM T20 Tri-Series, Jul 18 2025 – Full Analysis and Details
New Zealand won by 8 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
Zimbabwe  (20 ovs maximum)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wessly MadhevereÂ
|
b Milne | 36 | 32 | 51 | 4 | 0 | 112.50 | ||
|
Brian BennettÂ
|
c Jacobs b Henry | 21 | 20 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 105.00 | ||
|
Clive Madande â€
|
st †Seifert b Ravindra | 8 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 61.53 | ||
|
Sikandar Raza (c)
|
c Chapman b Santner | 12 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 66.66 | ||
|
Ryan BurlÂ
|
c Milne b Bracewell | 12 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 | ||
|
Tony MunyongaÂ
|
c Chapman b Henry | 13 | 18 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 72.22 | ||
|
Tashinga MusekiwaÂ
|
c Duffy b Henry | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 | ||
|
Tinotenda MaposaÂ
|
not out | 9 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 | ||
| Extras | (lb 4, w 1) | 5 | |||||||
| Total |
20 Ov (RR: 6.00)
|
120/7 | |||||||
|
Did not bat:Â Blessing Muzarabani,Â
Richard Ngarava,Â
Trevor GwanduÂ
|
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Brian Bennett, 5.2 ov), 2-61 (Clive Madande, 9.4 ov), 3-71 (Wessly Madhevere, 12.1 ov), 4-84 (Ryan Burl, 13.5 ov), 5-93 (Sikandar Raza, 15.6 ov), 6-98 (Tashinga Musekiwa, 16.4 ov), 7-120 (Tony Munyonga, 19.6 ov)
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matt Henry
|
4 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Jacob Duffy
|
3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 5.66 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
Adam Milne
|
4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
Mitchell Santner
|
4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4.50 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Michael Bracewell
|
2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 7.50 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Rachin Ravindra
|
3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 3.33 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand  (T: 121 runs from 20 ovs)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tim Seifert â€
|
c Musekiwa b Muzarabani | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 | ||
|
Devon ConwayÂ
|
not out | 59 | 40 | 67 | 4 | 2 | 147.50 | ||
|
Rachin RavindraÂ
|
c Muzarabani b Maposa | 30 | 19 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 157.89 | ||
|
Daryl MitchellÂ
|
not out | 26 | 19 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 136.84 | ||
| Extras | (b 2, w 2) | 4 | |||||||
| Total |
13.5 Ov (RR: 8.81)
|
122/2 | |||||||
|
Did not bat:Â Mark Chapman,Â
Bevon Jacobs,Â
Michael Bracewell,Â
Mitchell Santner (c),Â
Jacob Duffy,Â
Matt Henry,Â
Adam MilneÂ
|
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Tim Seifert, 1.1 ov), 2-64 (Rachin Ravindra, 8.3 ov)
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Richard Ngarava
|
3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 8.33 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
Blessing Muzarabani
|
4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
Trevor Gwandu
|
1.5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 15.27 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|
Tinotenda Maposa
|
2 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 8.50 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Sikandar Raza
|
3 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 7.66 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Match Flow of the Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Match Scorecard
Match Flow Summary Table from your data:
| # | Innings | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zimbabwe | Powerplay 1 | Overs 0.1 – 6.0 (39 runs, 1 wicket) |
| 2 | Zimbabwe | 50 Runs | 50 runs in 7.5 overs (47 balls), Extras 1 |
| 3 | Zimbabwe | 100 Runs | 100 runs in 17.1 overs (103 balls), Extras 5 |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | Innings Break | 120/7 in 20.0 overs (TT Maposa 9) |
| 5 | New Zealand | Powerplay 1 | Overs 0.1 – 6.0 (43 runs, 1 wicket) |
| 6 | New Zealand | 50 Runs | 50 runs in 6.3 overs (39 balls), Extras 0 |
| 7 | New Zealand | 2nd Wicket Partnership | 50 runs in 37 balls (Conway 22, Ravindra 27, Ex 2) |
| 8 | New Zealand | DP Conway Fifty | 50 off 34 balls (3×4, 2×6) |
| 9 | New Zealand | 100 Runs | 100 runs in 12.1 overs (73 balls), Extras 2 |
| 10 | New Zealand | 3rd Wicket Partnership | 50 runs in 29 balls (Conway 25, Mitchell 25, Ex 0) |
Conway’s Match-Winning Knock
Devon Conway survived an early drop by Blessing Muzarabani. He edged a ball on 1, but it wasn’t taken. This luck shaped New Zealand’s chase.
Conway scored a boundary off a top edge. His early struggles didn’t last long. As per Aaj Tak Sports, he capitalised on Zimbabwe’s fielding errors.
He grew confident, hitting sixes off Ngarava and Raza. Conway’s 59* came off 40 balls. His knock ensured a smooth victory, on the basis of spin like Sri Lanka.
Half-Century Partnerships
Conway and Rachin Ravindra built a 59-run stand. Their partnership came off 44 balls. It steadied New Zealand after Tim Seifert’s early dismissal.
Ravindra’s 30 included a hat-trick of fours. Conway later added 58 runs with Daryl Mitchell. According to Cricbuzz, these stands sealed the chase, like Australia does in its dominance.
Mitchell’s six off Gwandu brought the target closer. The partnerships kept Zimbabwe’s bowlers at bay. New Zealand crossed 100 in 13 overs.
Conway’s Fifty Milestones
Conway reached his fifty in 34 balls. He smashed sixes over deep midwicket and long-on. This was his second fifty in 15 T20I innings.
His knock included seven fours and two sixes. As per ESPN Cricinfo, Conway’s composure was key. He sealed the win with a boundary.
Zimbabwe’s lone spinner, Sikandar Raza, couldn’t stop him. Conway’s innings boosted his confidence. It was a match-defining performance.
Zimbabwe’s Struggles
Zimbabwe’s batting faltered against spin and pace. They scored only 120/7 in 20 overs. Sikandar Raza admitted their skills need improvement.
Wessly Madhevere showed intent but fell for 36. The middle order failed to build partnerships. According to BBC Sports, 145 was a par score.
Only 27.5% of their shots were attacking. They hit just one six. This reflected their struggle on a turning point.
Fielding Errors Costly
Zimbabwe dropped key catches, including Conway’s on 1. Blessing Muzarabani fluffed a simple chance off Ngarava. These errors proved costly.
Conway’s top edges landed safely, adding to Zimbabwe’s woes. As per Aaj Tak Sports, fielding let them down. They couldn’t pressure New Zealand’s batsmen.
Muzarabani redeemed himself by dismissing Seifert. But the early miss haunted them. Zimbabwe’s fielding needs urgent improvement.
Lack of Spin Bowling
Zimbabwe’s decision to exclude Wellington Masakadza hurt. They relied solely on Sikandar Raza for spin, like against South Africa. Tinotenda Maposa’s inclusion didn’t balance the attack.
New Zealand’s batsmen exploited this weakness. Conway and Ravindra faced little spin threat. According to Cricbuzz, this was a tactical error.
Raza bowled only a few overs. Zimbabwe’s seamers leaked runs in the powerplay. A second spinner could’ve challenged New Zealand more, like South Africa.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe highlighted their all-round strength in the T20 Tri-Series. Matt Henry’s 3/26 and the spinners’ tight bowling restricted Zimbabwe to 120/7. Devon Conway’s unbeaten 59, supported by Ravindra and Mitchell, ensured a swift chase in 13.5 overs.
Zimbabwe’s batting and fielding errors cost them dearly. As per ESPN Cricinfo, their 27.5% attacking shots showed a lack of aggression. Sikandar Raza’s team must improve to stay alive in the tournament.
New Zealand’s net run rate of 1.919 puts them atop the table. According to Cricbuzz, their depth makes them favourites. Zimbabwe face an uphill task to reach the final.
This match exposed Zimbabwe’s weaknesses against quality spin and pace. New Zealand’s clinical display sets the tone for their campaign. Fans can expect more exciting cricket as the tri-series continues.
