Date: 24 July 2025
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe
Match Type: 1st T20I – Zimbabwe vs New Zealand
Result: New Zealand won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Tim Seifert (NZ)
🔥 Match Summary
New Zealand began their T20I series against Zimbabwe with a dominant win, chasing down a modest target with clinical efficiency at the Harare Sports Club. After restricting Zimbabwe to just 114/9 in their 20 overs, the Kiwis sealed victory in just 14.2 overs, losing only three wickets in the process.
📝 Zimbabwe Innings: 114/9 (20 overs)
Zimbabwe’s innings was plagued by poor shot selection and disciplined Kiwi bowling. The hosts never quite found momentum, with only two players reaching double digits. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and pace bowler Matt Henry led the charge, picking up crucial wickets early and keeping the run rate in check.
Top Zimbabwe Batters:
Sikandar Raza – 28 (24 balls)
Ryan Burl – 20 (18 balls)
Clive Madande – 15 (17 balls)
Top New Zealand Bowlers:
Mitchell Santner – 4-0-15-2
Matt Henry – 4-0-18-3
Ben Sears – 4-0-26-2
Zimbabwe’s batting collapse began in the powerplay and only got worse as their middle order faltered. A few lusty blows by Sikandar Raza brought temporary relief, but his dismissal in the 11th over ended Zimbabwe’s slim hopes of building a competitive score.
🏏 New Zealand Innings: 118/3 (14.2 overs)
In reply, New Zealand’s chase was led by Tim Seifert, who anchored the innings with a composed 44 off 32 balls. He was well supported by opener Will Young, who chipped in with 32 off 24 balls. Despite losing a couple of wickets midway, the Black Caps cruised home with plenty of balls to spare.
Top New Zealand Batters:
Tim Seifert – 44 (32 balls)
Will Young – 32 (24 balls)
Glenn Phillips – 20* (12 balls)
Top Zimbabwe Bowlers:
Blessing Muzarabani – 3-0-25-1
Richard Ngarava – 3.2-0-29-1
The Kiwi batters showed their experience on a slightly tricky Harare surface, playing calculated cricket without taking unnecessary risks. Seifert, in particular, looked in great touch, hitting 5 boundaries and a six.
📊 Key Stats from the Match:
Lowest team total by Zimbabwe against New Zealand in T20Is: 114/9
Matt Henry: 3 wickets in a T20I after 11 months
Mitchell Santner: Reached 100 T20I wickets milestone
New Zealand’s 7th consecutive T20I win over Zimbabwe
💬 Post-Match Reactions
Tim Seifert (Player of the Match):
“It was a good wicket. I just wanted to stay in and play my natural game. The bowlers set it up beautifully for us.”
Kane Williamson (NZ Captain):
“Happy with the overall performance. Credit to our bowlers who made life difficult for Zimbabwe. Tim and Will set the tone perfectly in the chase.”
Sikandar Raza (ZIM Captain):
“Disappointing effort with the bat. We fell 30–40 runs short. We’ll look to bounce back in the next game.”
📅 Upcoming Fixtures
2nd T20I: 26 July 2025 – Harare
3rd T20I: 28 July 2025 – Harare
🧠 Final Thoughts
The opening match of the series was a one-sided affair, but Zimbabwe will be hoping to bounce back in the remaining games. For New Zealand, the performance ticked all the boxes – controlled bowling, sharp fielding, and a calm chase. The return of Tim Seifert to form is a huge boost for the visitors, while Zimbabwe needs to reassess their top-order strategy and middle-over game plan.
