Published on: Jul 15, 2025 8:30 pm IST|Updated on: Jul 15, 2025 3:56 pm IST
South Africa made it big in the first game of the Zimbabwe Tri-Series by decimating the hosts, Zimbabwe, by 5 wickets. Their next challenge comes in the form of the Blackcaps, i.e., New Zealand, who are all set to play their first game of the series.
New Zealand and South Africa are the two strong teams in this series. Out of the three teams, it’s New Zealand who have the most balanced and formidable unit for this series, as they have a proper amalgamation of youth and experienced players. These two sides have had a rich history in cricket, but surprisingly, their last T20I meeting came way back in 2017, i.e., 8 years ago.
New Zealand should enter this contest as the favorites, given their balanced squad. South Africa, on the other hand, should fancy their chances of putting up a good show after gaining momentum from the win in the previous fixture. Expect a thrilling contest between the two sides at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.
Let’s delve deeper into this post for the SA vs NZ Dream11 prediction.
Also Read: ZIM vs SA Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, 1st T20I, July 14
Date: 16th July 2025 Time: 04:30 PM IST Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Matches Played: 15 SA won: 11 NZ won: 4 No Result: 0 Tied: 0
South Africa has clearly had the edge over New Zealand in T20Is, winning 11 out of the 15 encounters between the two teams. The dominance has been even more evident in recent clashes. South Africa has come out on top in 4 of the last 5 games, while New Zealand have managed just one win during that stretch.
The pitch at Harare Sports Club for the 2nd T20I between South Africa and New Zealand is expected to offer a balanced contest. Early on, pacers could find movement and bounce, making the new ball phase tricky for batters. As the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down, bringing spinners into play and demanding smart shot selection. Historically, teams batting first have had a slight edge here, especially when posting totals above 180. However, chasing isn’t out of the question, particularly if dew sets in during the second innings.
Here are some key T20I match stats from the Harare Sports Club in Harare:
NZ Expected Playing XI: Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (WK), Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke
SA Expected Playing XI: Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane/Gerald Coetzee, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
As per the betting odds provided by most of the bettors, New Zealand is tipped as the favorite to win this match.
The 1st T20I between South Africa and New Zealand will take place on Wednesday, July 16, at 04:30 PM (IST). Online live streaming will take place on the Sony Liv app. The TV streaming will take place on Sony Ten 1, 2 & 5.
Wicket-keepers: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tim Seifert Batters: Reeza Hendricks, Rachin Ravindra, Dewald Brevis All-Rounders: Michael Bracewell, George Linde, Mitchell Santner Bowlers: Matt Henry, Nandre Burger, William O’Rourke
C/VC Options- Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan Dre-Pretorius