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Tim Seifert, Bowlers Shine as New Zealand Extend Winning Streak in Tri-Series
Dominant All-Round Performance Seals Comfortable Win Over South Africa
New Zealand continued their red-hot form in the ongoing tri-series with yet another convincing victory—this time over South Africa. Riding on Tim Seifert’s unbeaten 66 and another disciplined bowling effort, the Kiwis defeated South Africa by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare, securing their third consecutive win and further solidifying their position at the top of the table.
The match, which also served as a dress rehearsal for the tri-series final, saw New Zealand stamp their authority early with a balanced display of both bowling and batting. Their bowlers shared the spoils, while the batters ensured there were no hiccups in the chase of a modest target.
South Africa Falter Despite Promising Start
Early Aggression Undone by Middle-Order Collapse
Opting to bat first, South Africa began with positive intent as Rassie van der Dussen struck two boundaries early in the innings. However, Adam Milne provided a major breakthrough by clean-bowling van der Dussen in the very first over. The early momentum fizzled out quickly as tight bowling from Milne and Zakary Foulkes kept the run rate under control in the PowerPlay.
In the sixth over, Rubin Hermann sparked some life into the innings with two well-timed boundaries, and Reeza Hendricks followed up with a stylish six. But just as South Africa appeared ready to accelerate, Mark Chapman produced a brilliant run-out to send Hermann back.
The Proteas’ middle-order, which had previously shown promise, failed to build on the start. Dewald Brevis briefly counter-attacked but edged behind to Seifert. By the 10-over mark, South Africa was still below a run-a-ball, showing the growing pressure New Zealand’s bowlers applied.
New Zealand Bowlers Maintain Control
The spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Mark Chapman, supported by disciplined seam from Jacob Duffy and Milne, never allowed South Africa to find rhythm. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, and Gerald Coetzee all fell in quick succession, with Reeza Hendricks’ 41 being the only notable score.
George Linde offered late resistance, striking a six and a four, while Senuran Muthusamy chipped in with a maximum. However, South Africa’s innings ended at 134/8, with only 43 runs coming in the death overs—far from sufficient on a pitch that held true for batting.
📌 Read also: New Zealand’s Bowling Evolution in T20 Cricket
New Zealand Chase with Authority
Seifert’s 66* Anchors Run-Chase with Style
Chasing a modest total, New Zealand got off to a dream start, not just with the bat but also with South Africa’s misfields. The opening over included six wides and a dropped catch by Simelane to give Tim Seifert an early reprieve.
Seifert made South Africa pay dearly, combining with Devon Conway for a quick 51-run opening stand. Conway showed glimpses of class with a lofted shot over covers, while Seifert dominated with a flurry of boundaries, including back-to-back hits off Coetzee.
The openers raced to 50 in just five overs. However, South Africa clawed back slightly when Simelane dismissed Conway and Muthusamy removed Rachin Ravindra in successive overs. But Seifert continued undeterred, launching a counterattack with reverse-sweeps and towering sixes, one of which landed in a nearby pub.
Mark Chapman briefly threatened before falling to a mistimed slog. With 135 in sight, Daryl Mitchell joined Seifert and helped close the match in the 16th over with crisp boundaries.
New Zealand’s Momentum Ahead of Final
This dominant win not only extended New Zealand’s unbeaten run in the tri-series but also reinforced their tag as favorites for the final. With bowlers clicking in tandem and Seifert hitting peak form, the Kiwis are building a solid all-round unit that will be hard to beat.
For South Africa, the match exposed vulnerabilities—particularly in the middle-order and fielding department—which they’ll need to address before the crucial stages of the competition.
📎 More on this: Tri-Series Fixtures & Standings – ICC Official.
