New Zealand hold nerve to down South Africa

Harare: Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy shared six wickets between them as New Zealand began their T20I Tri-Series campaign with a 21-run win over South Africa, defending a total of 173 at Harare Sports Club.

Henry’s incisive early bursts (3/34) and Duffy’s clutch strikes at the death (3/20) proved too much for the Proteas, who fell short despite a valiant lower-order fightback led by George Linde.

The victory also marked a winning start to Rob Walter’s coaching tenure with New Zealand — against the very team he previously coached.

Chasing 174, South Africa were reeling at 111 for 7 in the 14th over, before Linde (30 off 20) and Gerald Coetzee (17) stitched a 37-run partnership to keep hopes alive. With 31 needed from the last three overs, Linde mistimed a pull and holed out at deep mid-wicket off Duffy, who then removed Coetzee next ball to end the contest and bag a well-deserved three-wicket haul.

Earlier, it was Henry’s new-ball spell that set the tone. He struck early blows, including the key wicket of Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who had raced to a brisk 27 but edged behind in the fourth over. Henry’s bounce and movement proved difficult for the South African top order, who crumbled to 62 for 5 inside nine overs.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 173/5 (Tim Robinson 75 not out, Bevon Jacobs 44, Kwena Maphaka 2/38) beat South Africa 152 all out in 18.2 overs (Dewald Brevis 35, George Linde 30; Jacob Duffy 3/20, Matt Henry 3/3) by 21 runs. IANS

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