New Zealand will lock horns with South Africa in the second match of the “Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series 2025” at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
In the inaugural match, South Africa thrashed the hosts (Zimbabwe) at the same venue, winning the match by 5 wickets. In that match, South Africa’s newly appointed skipper Rassie van der Dussen won the toss and elected to field first. With momentum on their side, South Africa returns with a young and talented squad featuring Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Lungi Ngidi.
On the other hand, New Zealand played the last T20I against Pakistan in March 2025 at Wellington Regional Stadium, where Michael Bracewell won the toss and elected to field first. New Zealand won the match by 8 wickets and the series 4-1. In the upcoming match, there are four newcomers (Jimmy Neesham, Devon Conway, Tim Robinson and Mitch Hay), and Finn Allen, including experienced all-rounder Mitchell Santner, will be available.
Toss Prediction – Who Will Win Today’s Toss?
In the first match between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the preference of Rassie van der Dussen was to field first at Harare Sports Club, Harare, resulting in a victory. The toss-winning captain is likely to pick to bowl first after winning the toss. The average first-innings score is 151, while the highest total here is 234/2 by India against Zimbabwe.
The pitch generates a slower bounce in Zimbabwe, due to which there are a lot of run-scoring opportunities. Initially, the pitch offers a consistent pace, offering batsmen an ideal condition. The spinners come into the game later on when the track slows down, while the fast bowlers need more precise line and length.
Our Toss Prediction: New Zealand are likely to win the toss & decide to bowl
New Zealand to Won the Toss & Opt to Bowl
Historical Toss Record (NZ vs SA)
| Match | Date | Venue | Toss Winner | Toss Decision | Match Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | February 17, 2017 | Auckland | New Zealand | Elected to field | South Africa |
| 2nd T20I | August 16, 2015 | Centurion | New Zealand | Elected to bat | New Zealand |
| 3rd T20I | August 14, 2015 | Durban | South Africa | Elected to field | South Africa |
| 4th T20I | March 24, 2014 | Chattogram | New Zealand | Elected to field | South Africa |
| 5th T20I | December 26, 2012 | Gqeberha | South Africa | Elected to bat | South Africa |
Toss Stats by Captains
New Zealand Toss Record (Mitchell Santner):
- Matches: 27
- Tosses Won: 11
- Win %: 55.55%
South Africa Toss Record (Rassie van der Dussen):
- Matches: 4
- Tosses Won: 3
- Win %: 25%
Tracing historical data, New Zealand’s skipper Mitchell Santner has a major advantage with 55.55% as win percentage, while Rassie van der Dussen is a new captain who holds 25% as win percentage in T20Is.
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Pitch & Weather Report –
- The toss winner is likely to invite the other team to bat first, given early help for the fast bowlers and pitch turning favourable for the batting team as the match progresses.
- The pitch at THarare Sports Club, Harare, will turn flat as the match gets into the next phase. The second innings will have plenty of opportunities to score runs.
- The spinners will be active during the middle overs. Despite batting first, teams have won more matches here, the preference will be to utilise the flat pitch in the second half.
- The sun will shine over Harare Sports Club in Harare, and no rain conditions are suspected as of now.
NZ vs SA – Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Total Matches | New Zealand Wins | South Africa Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
Probable Playing XIs
New Zealand Playing XI: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Adam Milne, William O’Rourke, Ish Sodhi.
South Africa Playing XI: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen (c), Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
New Zealand will kick off the campaign with their first match against South Africa in the T20 Tri series. With an upcoming ICC T20 World Cup on the horizon in 2026, both sides have plenty of opportunities to test their best combinations. Playing at a neutral venue will be crucial for both teams to have an equal competition on the cards.
Win Probability
| Team | Win Chance |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 55% |
| South Africa | 45% |
Players to Watch
Best Batters:
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell
South Africa: Rassie van der Dussen, Lhuan-dre Pretorius
Best Bowlers:
New Zealand: Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner
South Africa: Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi
Final Prediction
- Toss Winner: New Zealand (likely)
- Match Winner Prediction: New Zealand
South Africa holds a dominant advantage in terms of head-to-head records. They are coming off a one-sided victory against Zimbabwe. In the last five matches between New Zealand and South Africa, the Kiwis won only one match. However, New Zealand team has more experienced players, and their consistency in T20 cricket is remarkable.
