Tim Robinson and debutant Bevon Jacobs starred with the bat before Jacob Duffy and his fellow bowlers delivered a clinical performance as New Zealand clinched a 21-run win over South Africa in the second match of the T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe. After losing half their side inside the first 10 overs, New Zealand recovered thanks to an unbroken 103-run stand for the sixth wicket between Robinson and Jacobs, guiding their team to a competitive 173/5. South Africa, despite early promise, faltered in their chase and were bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand began aggressively with Tim Seifert taking the lead. He smashed four boundaries in a quickfire 22 before falling to a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi. Devon Conway, who had faced just one ball in the first three overs, showed brief promise with two fours off young pacer Kwena Maphaka. However, he perished in the same over, top-edging a short delivery, and New Zealand’s early momentum started to wane.
Wickets continued to tumble as the Proteas applied pressure with disciplined bowling. Daryl Mitchell, looking to pull Gerald Coetzee, only managed a top-edge that was safely pouched, while Mitchell Hay was trapped in front by an arm ball from Senuran Muthusamy — his maiden T20I wicket. James Neesham’s dismissal to a short ball from Maphaka, shortly after Rassie van der Dussen dropped Robinson, left New Zealand reeling at 70/5 by the halfway mark.
At that point, a major collapse looked imminent. But the tide turned with the arrival of Bevon Jacobs. On debut, Jacobs showed composure and attacking flair as he joined hands with the in-form Robinson to stage a remarkable counterattack. They initially consolidated, but soon shifted gears, launching into South Africa’s bowlers with purpose. Jacobs struck a towering six off Ngidi, setting the tone for the acceleration, while Robinson brought up his 42-ball half-century with a powerful six over backward point off Coetzee.
New Zealand’s run rate soared in the last five overs. Despite a tight 17th over from Corbin Bosch that went for only seven, Maphaka conceded 15 in the next, including a six from Jacobs and a set of four wides. Robinson followed up with two well-placed boundaries off Bosch in the 19th, before both batters went big against Coetzee in the final over, each clearing the ropes as 19 runs were plundered. Robinson ended unbeaten on 75 from 57 balls, while Jacobs made a vital 44 not out off 30, with their 103-run partnership propelling New Zealand to 173/5.
South Africa’s chase began in blazing fashion. Lhuan-dre Pretorius looked in menacing touch, slamming six boundaries within the first four overs. Reeza Hendricks also got going with a four off Ish Sodhi, and at 42/0, South Africa looked on course. But Matt Henry removed Pretorius with a sharp delivery that found the edge, and the momentum began to shift. Duffy then struck with a well-directed short ball to remove Rubin Hermann, reducing South Africa to 50/2 by the end of the PowerPlay.
The middle order crumbled under pressure. Hendricks was bowled, Muthusamy was caught at point, and van der Dussen departed cheaply, all within the space of a few overs. At 62/5 in the ninth over, the hosts were in serious trouble. Dewald Brevis tried to salvage the innings with a flurry of boundaries, including three sixes, offering a glimmer of hope. But his innings was cut short by Henry, who had him caught at long-on just after the 100-run mark.
Bosch briefly revived the innings with a six off Santner, but was adjudged lbw in the next over by Sodhi. George Linde stepped up and struck two sixes, one each off Santner and Sodhi, to bring the required run rate within reach. However, a tight 17th over from Neesham, which went for just seven, tightened New Zealand’s grip.
Coetzee’s boundary off Duffy in the 18th offered some resistance, but Duffy bounced back immediately, claiming the wickets of Linde and Maphaka to all but seal the result. Needing 26 from the final two overs, Coetzee managed one more boundary but soon holed out off Henry, as South Africa were dismissed in the penultimate over for 152.
Jacob Duffy (3-20), Matt Henry (3-34), and Ish Sodhi (2-34) led a disciplined bowling effort that backed up the late batting charge from Robinson and Jacobs. For South Africa, despite Maphaka’s 2-38 and some explosive individual cameos, their inconsistency with the bat proved costly.
Brief scores:
New Zealand: 173/5 in 20 overs (Tim Robinson 75*, Bevon Jacobs 44*; Kwena Maphaka 2-38)
South Africa: 152 in 18.2 overs (Dewald Brevis 35, George Linde 30; Jacob Duffy 3-20, Matt Henry 3-34)
Result: New Zealand won by 21 runs.
