Matt Henry took two wickets in the final over as New Zealand beat South Africa by three runs in the final of the Zimbabwe T20 international tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chasing New Zealand's total of 180 for five, South Africa were on the brink of victory when big-hitting Dewald Brevis hit 15 runs, including two sixes, off the penultimate over from Zakary Foulkes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa needed seven off the last over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It seemed Brevis might have hit another six off the second ball but Michael Bracewell on the deep midwicket boundary held a high hit and calmly tossed the ball up before crossing the rope and then stepping back to complete the catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Three runs were scored off the next two balls before Daryl Mitchell held a diving catch at long-on to dismiss George Linde. Henry closed out the match with a dot ball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fast bowler Henry was named player of the match as well as player of the tournament after finishing as the leading wicket-taker with ten wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"South Africa got off to a flier," Henry said of South Africa's opening stand of 92 between Lhuan-dre Pretorius (51) and Reeza Hendricks (37).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It’s a credit to our team for staying in the fight, knowing wickets can change things."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner also praised the ability of his players to "hang in there" on what he said was the best pitch for batting of the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Guys stepped up on different occasions throughout this tri-series," said Santner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There were a lot of challenges with the ball today but the guys were ready and really clear on how they wanted to operate."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South African captain Rassie van der Dussen said he was proud of the way a young team missing several leading players had competed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"A centimetre more and the result would have been different," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tim Seifert (30) and Devon Conway (47) put on 75 for New Zealand’s first wicket and Rachin Ravindra contributed a hard-hit 47 off 27 balls before South Africa’s tactic of bowling low full tosses kept the total in check towards the end of the innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa also lost momentum after their fast start before Brevis slammed 31 off 16 balls with three sixes – which so nearly could have been four.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A lengthy check was needed by the television umpire to determine whether Bracewell had stepped on the boundary rope while still holding the ball.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/New-Zealand-Edge-Out-South-Africa-by-3-Runs-in-Nail-Biting-Zimbabwe-T20-Final.jpeg", "alt_img": "New Zealand vs South Africa 2025 Final", "alt_title": "Zimbabwe Tri-Series 2025 Final", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "New Zealand Edge Out South Africa by 3 Runs in Nail-Biting Zimbabwe T20 Final On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Matt Henry delivered a stunning final over as New Zealand edged past South Africa by 3 runs to win the Zimbabwe T20 Tri-Series 2025 Final. ", "seo_keywords": "Zimbabwe Tri-Series 2025 Final, Matt Henry, New Zealand Vs South Africa, New Zealand Cricket, South Africa Cricket, Dewald Brevis", "tag": null, "tagging": "Zimbabwe Tri-Series 2025 Final,Matt Henry,Zealand Vs South Africa,Zealand Cricket,South Africa Cricket,Dewald Brevis,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "new-zealand-edge-out-south-africa-by-3-runs-in-nail-biting-zimbabwe-t20-final", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "872", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2025-07-27 07:44:06", "updated": "2025-07-27 07:44:06", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Zimbabwe Tri-Series 2025 Final, Matt Henry, New Zealand Vs South Africa, New Zealand Cricket, South Africa Cricket, Dewald Brevis", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2025-07-27 07:44:06", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/new-zealand-edge-out-south-africa-by-3-runs-in-nail-biting-zimbabwe-t20-final-174842" }