AI Simulation, SA vs NZ | Mitchell and Phillips shine in tough chase to ensure Kiwi win

‌Pitch & Weather

The pitch at the Harare Sports Club was a two-paced track where the bowlers did get some uneven bounce and seam movement off the surface. However, the conditions got easier to bat as the game went on.

The weather in Harare was nice and sunny, with no sign of rain at the venue.

Toss & Conditions

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first

Lineups

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rassie van der Dussen (c), Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis,  George Linde, Corbin Bosch,  Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter,  Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, William O’Rourke,

Match Report

 New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to put the Proteas into bat. The Black Caps started well with the ball as Matt Henry dismissed Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over of the game. Despite the disappointing start, South Africa skipper Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks improved the scoring rate with an important second-wicket partnership in the middle. Though it seemed like a great recovery by the Rainbow Nation, the situation got worse as Santner came in the eighth over and delivered with two big strikes dismissing Hendricks who was caught plumb in front of his stumps after failing to negate a nicely flighted loopy delivery that drifted and in the matter of two balls disturbed Rubin Herman's stumps. With the runs drying up after the magical over by the Kiwi captain, van der Dussen was eventually dismissed on 47 after two overs by William O’Rourke, trying to up the ante as he mistimed the lofted straight hit, which was caught by the fielder at long-off. The 2024 T20 World Cup finalists were suddenly in a spot of bother at the halfway stage, with the score being 81/4. While Dewald Brevis had played a handy knock of 39 off 22 deliveries and was supported by small 20+ cameos from George Linde and Corbin Bosch to take the team to a score of 164/7, it did not seem enough, as the conditions seemed to have gotten better for batting

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra started the proceedings well as the Kiwis scored 56 runs in the powerplay, with Ravindra playing the aggressor and Conway successfully rotating the strike. Though Conway was dismissed shortly after the powerplay by Ngidi, Ravindra continued to counterattack the Proteas bowling. However, the turning point in the game suddenly came with the spin duo George Linde and Nqabayomzi Peter tightening the screws in the middle overs. Linde went on to dismiss a dangerous-looking Ravindra for 36, and ended Mark Chapman’s struggling period at the crease with a quicker arm ball that crashed into his stumps. Though this period gave the Proteas a chance to come back in the game, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips formed an important partnership in the middle to get the Black Caps back in a commanding position once again. While Mitchell played a steady knock of 42 off 30 deliveries, Phillips played a cameo of 28 off 17, which included some big hits. By the time the two batters were dismissed, New Zealand needed only 21 runs in the last four overs with Michael Bracewell and James Neesham at the crease. Even though the two left-handed batter took their time at the crease, they eventually finished the game with seven balls to spare to ensure a six-wicket win.

Player of the Match

Daryl Mitchell was awarded the player of the match award for his crucial knock of 42 off 30 deliveries.

Scorecard