Conway applies the finishing touches, and NZ make it two wins out of two at a canter! On the shorter side again and even though this hurries Conway into the pull, he manages to muscle it away past mid wicket. Deep square cannot get around to it either, and New Zealand cruise to an eight-wicket victory, with more than six overs to spare!
Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 3rd Match at Harare, ZIM T20 Tri-Series, Jul 18 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd Match, Harare, July 18, 2025, Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series
120/7
(13.5/20 ov, T:121) 122/2
New Zealand won by 8 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
New
NZ
Full commentary
4:10pm That will be all from us for this game. We hope you enjoyed our coverage, and until next time, from Harshith, Sudeep and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye. Take care, folks!
Devon Conway, Player of the Match: It was nice to spend some time in the middle. Got a bit lucky early and fortunate I got through that period. Time in the middle is crucial in T20 cricket. I thought they (the Zimbabwe pacers) bowled really well. Credit to them, they made it hard for us. It was nice to get through that period, and nice to bat with Rachin and get through that period. (On the conditions) Challenging. Our bowlers bowled really well, spinners did well. To keep them to 120 was good. It (the pitch) might have settled down a bit for us, and really good to win. (On Zimbabwe having just one spinner) Only Sikandar bowled today - so it was a good result for us.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: We were challenged in different parts today. As a bowling unit, we bowled well. We pride ourselves (on our fielding), just a couple of dropped catches by me (smiles). We adapted well with the ball. We knew they were going to fire some shots. Kept taking wickets through the middle and thankfully there was some spin as well for us. (On Robinson missing out) Unfortunate for him. His innings the other day was outstanding. It is a good position for us. All (members of the squad) can do a job for us.
Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe captain: I don't think we batted well at all. The powerplay was okay, but after that, when the ball started turning, we did not have any answers. Once the middle (overs) got away from us, it was tough to come back. It is a time when we have to accept the skills we have and improve on them. Once the skills are there, we can make a better plan. Today was a fair reflection of where we are (against spin and pace on challenging tracks). 145 would have been par and would have given us a better chance.
3:52pm A fairly comfortable run-chase in the end. That, though, did not seem the case at the start of the innings, when Muzarabani and Ngarava were getting the new ball to talk. Conway rode his luck a little, including being dropped by Muzarabani in Ngarava's first over, but found his range the longer he batted. Ravindra, who put on 59 with Conway, was the major driving factor in that partnership and his initial charge, including three successive fours off Gwandu inside the powerplay, put paid to any Zimbabwean hopes of a comeback.
Speaking of Zimbabwe, they gave it a proper rattle, at least for the first four overs. But they were soon playing catch-up because of how few they had on the board. There may still be something to work with for the hosts, but having lost two out of two, and with them pretty much in last-ditch territory (in this tri-series), they will have to figure out a way to score more runs. Stick around for the post-match presentation.
13.5
4
Gwandu to Conway, FOUR runs
13.4
1
Gwandu to Mitchell, 1 run
short on middle and off. Mitchell winds up Shane Watson style and heaves it towards deep backward square leg
13.4
1w
Gwandu to Mitchell, 1 wide
very similar to the previous ball, and this is beyond the tramlines too. Left alone by Mitchell and some more exercise for the umpire right at the end
13.4
1w
Gwandu to Mitchell, 1 wide
short and too wide outside off. Mitchell cannot reach it and the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide either. That is just the second wide bowled today!
NZ one hit away now
13.3
1
Gwandu to Conway, 1 run
off-pace short delivery on leg stump. Conway lets the ball come to him before pulling it towards deep square leg
13.2
1
Gwandu to Mitchell, 1 run
that is a proper half-tracker outside leg and Mitchell is disappointed he has missed out here. Swipes it straight to fine leg
13.1
6
Gwandu to Mitchell, SIX runs
nicely done! Back of a length outside off. Mitchell figures out the line and the length early and shimmies across. He then waits for the ball and scoops it cleanly over the fine leg fence!
The NZ batters taking on some more fluids during the change of overs. Gwandu to bowl. NZ 14 runs away from making it two wins in two in this tri-series
end of over 138 runs
NZ: 107/2CRR: 8.23 • RRR: 2.00 • Need 14 runs from 42b
Daryl Mitchell18 (16b 1x4)
Devon Conway54 (38b 3x4 2x6)
Blessing Muzarabani 4-0-27-1
Sikandar Raza 3-0-23-0
12.6
1
Muzarabani to Mitchell, 1 run
hard length just outside off. Mitchell hacks it towards mid on and gallops across to the other end
12.5
1
Muzarabani to Conway, 1 run
dug in short outside off. Conway gets on top of the bounce and slaps it towards deep point
12.4
1
Muzarabani to Mitchell, 1 run
off-pace on a back of a length just outside off. Mitchell is too early into his swing and drags it towards deep square leg
12.3
2
Muzarabani to Mitchell, 2 runs
was there bat involved?! Bumper outside off and this gets up very high. Mitchell swipes at it and seems to get a scratch on it. The keeper cannot collect, though, despite a strong leap, and Mitchell gets two for his toil
12.2
2
Muzarabani to Mitchell, 2 runs
back of a length on off. Mitchell walks across his stumps and works it towards deep mid wicket. The call for two is early and even though Conway labours back a little, he gets there
12.1
1
Muzarabani to Conway, 1 run
shortish outside off. Conway hangs back and cuts it down to deep third. Might have come off the bottom part of the bat
Muzarabani to bowl out. NZ only need 22 more
end of over 1211 runs
NZ: 99/2CRR: 8.25 • RRR: 2.75 • Need 22 runs from 48b
Devon Conway52 (36b 3x4 2x6)
Daryl Mitchell12 (12b 1x4)
Sikandar Raza 3-0-23-0
Richard Ngarava 3-0-25-0
11.6
1
Raza to Conway, 1 run
very full on middle and leg. Conway gets his front foot out of the way and helicopters it towards long on. A mini-helicopter motion, it must be added
11.5
1
Raza to Mitchell, 1 run
shortish on middle and off. Mitchell opens up his stance and hoicks it towards long on
11.4
•
Raza to Mitchell, no run
on a length on off stump. Mitchell takes a step down the track before stabbing it towards mid wicket
11.3
1
Raza to Conway, 1 run
angled into the pads. Conway tucks it into the square leg region and picks up another run
11.2
2
Raza to Conway, 2 runs
off-spinner on a shortish length outside off. Conway waits for it and punches it towards sweeper cover, who then fires an errant throw and ends up conceding an extra run. Which means Conway brings up his fifty. He did not look comfortable at the start, but has grown into his innings!
11.1
6
Raza to Conway, SIX runs
and Raza gets pumped down the ground! Given a bit of air on middle and off, and Conway is down the track in a flash. Gets to the pitch of the ball and slams it over Muzarabani at long on!
Raza to bowl his third
end of over 1114 runs
NZ: 88/2CRR: 8.00 • RRR: 3.66 • Need 33 runs from 54b
Daryl Mitchell11 (10b 1x4)
Devon Conway42 (32b 3x4 1x6)
Richard Ngarava 3-0-25-0
Sikandar Raza 2-0-12-0
10.6
4
Ngarava to Mitchell, FOUR runs
placed to absolute perfection! Another attempted short ball but this does not get up as high as Ngarava would have wanted. Mitchell gets on top of the bounce, rolls his wrists slightly and belts it between fine leg and deep square leg!
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NZÂ 100%
ZIMNZ100%50%100%
Over 14 • NZ 122/2
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