Tag: New Zealand

Matt Henry took three wickets and Devon Conway hit an unbeaten half-century as New Zealand outclassed hosts Zimbabwe by eight wickets in their tri-series match at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Zimbabwe made a promising start but could only score 120-7 after being sent in to bat in their 20 overs.

New Zealand needed only 13.5 overs to secure the win, with left-handed opening batter Conway making 59 not out off 40 balls.

New Zealand’s fast bowlers, led by Henry, made good use of short-pitched deliveries while left-arm spinners Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra gained bounce and turn from a dry pitch.

Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett put on 37 for the first wicket before Bennett (21) top-edged a short ball from Henry to square leg in the sixth over.

Madhevere took 11 runs off Henry’s first over but struggled for fluency in making 36 runs off 32 balls, while none of the batsmen were able to master New Zealand’s spin bowlers.

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“They came out quite aggressive in the power play, but we adapted well with the ball,” said New Zealand captain Santner.

Player of the match Conway was dropped on one at backward point off Richard Ngarava in the first over of New Zealand’s reply, and opening partner Tim Seifert was caught at cover for three off Blessing Muzarabani in the next over.

But Conway and Ravindra put on 59 for the second wicket before Daryl Mitchell joined Conway to take New Zealand to a victory over Zimbabwe which virtually ensures them a place in the final on July 26.

“I got a bit lucky early on,” admitted Conway. He said Ngarava and Muzarabani bowled well on a “challenging” surface. “It was nice to get through that period,” he said.

Zimbabwe will have to win their remaining matches against New Zealand and South Africa by big margins to have any chance of reaching the final.

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Jimmy Neesham found himself in an unfortunate list during New Zealand’s tri-series clash against South Africa in Harare on Wednesday, joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in an unwanted T20I record.

The Kiwi all-rounder was dismissed for a second-ball duck, which was his seventh in T20Is, equalling the tally of several prominent names, including Kohli, Babar, Mohammad Hafeez, Quinton de Kock, and Jason Roy.

A total of 43 players now share this dubious distinction.

Neesham has also edged past fellow New Zealander Colin de Grandhomme, who previously held the national record with six ducks. The 34-year-old now owns the record for most ducks in T20Is for New Zealand.

Most T20I ducks for New Zealand:

• Jimmy Neesham – 7
• Colin de Grandhomme – 6
• Ish Sodhi – 6
• Tim Southee – 6
• Ross Taylor – 6
• Finn Allen – 5

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Globally, the record for most ducks in T20Is is jointly held by Rwanda’s Zappy Bimenyimana and Kevin Irakoze, Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar, Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka, and Ireland’s Paul Stirling, all with 13.

Despite the early exit of Jimmy Neesham, New Zealand cruised to a 21-run win over South Africa, registering their first victory of the tri-series.

Tim Robinson anchored the innings with an unbeaten 75 off 57 balls, while Bevon Jacobs added firepower with 44* off 30.

Tim Seifert chipped in with a brisk 22 as the Kiwis posted 173/5.

In response, South Africa were bowled out for 152 in 18.2 overs. Dewald Brevis top-scored with 35 off 18, followed by George Linde (30) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (27).

Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each. Ish Sodhi bagged two, while Mitchell Santner added one to his name.

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HARARE: Debutant Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson’s gutsy knocks, followed by an all-round bowling effort, led New Zealand to a 21-run victory over South Africa here on Wednesday.

The New Zealand vs South Africa match was the second fixture of the tri-series played at the Harare Sports Club.

Chasing a target of 174 runs, South Africa’s innings folded on 152 in 18.2 overs.

In pursuit of the target, the Proteas had a rapid start, scoring 34 in just 3.2 overs. However, the Black Caps laid the first blow, removing dangerous Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who struck 27 off 17 deliveries with the help of six fours.

South Africa’s progress was dented further in the next over as Rubin Hermann (1) was caught by Matt Henry off Jacob Duffy’s bowling, reducing them to 35-2.

The wickets continued to tumble as Mitchell Santner removed Reeza Hendricks ( 16 off 12 balls), which reduced South Africa to 50-3 at the end of the powerplay.

South Africa’s half of the side went back to the pavilion by the ninth over as Rassie van der Dussen and Senuran Muthusamy fell in quick succession.

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The scorecard read 62-5 when Dewald Brevis arrived at the crease, who tried to lift South Africa out of the trouble. He forged a quick-fire 39-run stand of 20 balls with George Linde, bringing the score near 100 at the halfway stage of the innings.

Brewis looked impressive for his 35 off 18 deliveries, laced with three sixes and a four; however, he was caught off Matt Henry’s bowling. George Linde put in a valiant effort with 30 off 20 balls, striking two sixes and a four, bringing down the equation to 38 off the last four overs.

However, New Zealand put on a clinical bowling effort at the death to bundle out the rainbow nation.

For Black Caps, Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets each, while seasoned bowler Ish Sodhi was clinical with two wickets.

Earlier, after being put in to bat first, New Zealand posted 173-5 in their allocated 20 overs, thanks to a rearguard effort from debutant Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson.

The duo put on a mammoth 103-run partnership to lift New Zealand out of trouble after a shambolic batting performance from their top order.

The Black Caps were reduced to 70-5 in only 9.3 overs; however, Robinson (75* off 57) featuring three sixes and six fours and Jacobs (44* off 30) with the aid of three fours and a six powered them to a formidable total.

For South Africa, Kwena Maphaka scalped two wickets. Lungi Ngidi, Senuran Muthusamy and Gerald Coetzee chipped in with two wickets each.

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HARARE: South Africa continued their dominance over Zimbabwe after securing a five-wicket win despite a fighting half-century from Sikandar Raza in the opening match of a Twenty20 international tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

New Zealand will play its first match of the tournament when it meets South Africa at the same venue on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe were restricted to 141 for six after being sent in, with captain Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 54 not out. Sikandar Raza’s knock was laced with three fours and two sixes.

Both teams showed multiple changes following a two-match Test series in Bulawayo, which South Africa won comfortably.

Opening bowler Lungi Ngidi took a wicket and conceded only seven runs in a three-over opening spell.

Left-arm spinner George Linde took three for 10, including two wickets for four runs in the last over.

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South Africa lost three wickets in the six-over power play against aggressive left-arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava and seamer Trevor Gwandu.

But new cap Rubin Hermann (45) and hard-hitting player of the match Dewald Brevis, who thrashed 41 off 17 balls, put on 72 for the fourth wicket to ensure a comfortable win.

South African captain Rassie van der Dussen praised the two young batters. “There was a little bit of pressure up front,” he said. “Losing three wickets in the power play was not ideal, but their partnership was brilliant.”

Brevis hit five sixes and a four in his innings, including three successive sixes off leg-spinner Ryan Burl.

Sikandar Raza praised Ngarava and Gwandu, who took three for 35 and two for 15, respectively.

“It was the first game of the winter (in Harare) and we weren’t sure of the wicket,” said Raza of his team’s batting performance. At least we know these are going to be high-scoring games,” Sikandar Raza concluded.

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New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe, starting July 14, after sustaining a foot injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season.

Allen, who was representing the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up the injury during the league stage and will not be available for the MLC playoffs either.

The Unicorns are scheduled to face MI New York in the Eliminator on Wednesday, but have opted not to name a replacement for Finn Allen.

According to a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he returns to New Zealand and undergoes further specialist consultations.

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“Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he has returned to New Zealand and received further specialist consultations,” the statement read. “A replacement player will be named in due course.”

It’s worth noting that during Unicorns’ final league game against Los Angeles Knight Riders on July 6, Finn Allen was dismissed for 4 in the first over during a steep chase of 244.

Despite that, Allen finished the league stage as the Unicorns’ second-highest run-scorer with 333 runs in nine matches.

His tally includes a record-breaking 151 against Washington Freedom in the tournament opener in Oakland, the highest individual score in MLC history.

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AUCKLAND: New Zealand have named a 15-member squad, excluding ace batter Kane Williamson, for the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, slated to commence from July 30 in Bulawayo.

The squad, which is not part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), features some new faces alongside the return of several experienced players.

Among the notable absentees from the squad are Black Caps stalwart Williamson and off-spinner Michael Bracewell.

Kane Williamson is unavailable for the series due to his county commitments. Following his stint with Middlesex, the batting maestro will feature in the Hundred, representing the London Spirit.

Meanwhile, Bracewell, who is currently featuring in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, will also feature in the Hundred. The off-spinner is picked by Southern Brave for £200,000 according to a statement given by New Zealand Cricket board.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter shed light on both players’ absence from the squad, noting that he respects the duo’s decision.

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Kane and Michael were up front with New Zealand Cricket about their availability for this tour during the contracting process,” Walter said.

He added, stating that, “While all Test matches are hugely special and important, the fact that these Tests aren’t part of the ICC World Test Championship did influence the discussions on this occasion.”

The new-look pace attack of New Zealand will be spearheaded by Matt Henry, while Will O’Rourke, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, and Matthew Fisher will provide ample support with raw pace.

The 25-year-old Fisher has been added to the New Zealand squad for the first time, as Kyle Jamieson, who is awaiting the birth of his first child, is unavailable. Apart from Jamieson, Ben Sears is also not available due to an injury.

Henry Nicholls has returned to the Test squad after two years on the back of excellent domestic form, while left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is also in the squad after returning from an injury.

New Zealand Test squad

Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young

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JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday named the T20I squad for the upcoming tri-nation series featuring Zimbabwe and New Zealand, with Rassie van der Dussen set to lead the side in the absence of regular captain Aiden Markram.

The tri-series, scheduled to be played in Harare from July 14 to 26, will mark South Africa’s first T20I assignment under the new all-format head coach Shukri Conrad.

Several senior players have been rested for workload management, paving the way for a number of new faces.

Among them is Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who finished as the leading run-scorer in the recent SA20 season and has received his maiden international call-up.

Corbin Bosch, who has previously represented South Africa in ODIs and Tests, is also in line to make his T20I debut.

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Wicketkeeper-batter Rubin Hermann and all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy, both of whom impressed in domestic competitions, have also been included, with the latter already having Test and ODI experience.

“Lhuan-dre and Rubin have been rewarded for their strong SA20 campaigns. We’re also excited to see how Corbin Bosch adapts his skill set to the T20 format,” said Conrad.

The Proteas will be further bolstered by the return of pacers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee, who are currently active in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States after recovering from injuries.

Dewald Brevis, meanwhile, is set to make his long-awaited return to the national setup after nearly two years.

“This T20I tri-series marks the start of our preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup,” Conrad further stated.

“Resting senior players allows us to test our depth and give these youngsters the chance to prove themselves at the international level.”

South Africa squad for tri-series: Rassie van der Dussen (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane.

Tri-nation T20I series schedule:

• 1st T20I, 14 July – Zimbabwe vs South Africa
• 2nd T20I, 16 July – South Africa vs New Zealand
• 3rd T20I, 18 July – Zimbabwe vs New Zealand
• 4th T20I, 20 July – Zimbabwe vs South Africa
• 5th T20I, 22 July – New Zealand vs South Africa
• 6th T20I, 24 July – Zimbabwe vs New Zealand
• Final, 26 July – Number 1 vs Number 2

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The Pakistan hockey team has reportedly been invited to participate in the upcoming season of the FIH Pro League after New Zealand withdrew due to financial constraints.

According to the sources, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) reached out to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) with a formal invitation, opening the door for the Men in Green to feature in the prestigious global event.

This marks a significant opportunity for Pakistan to climb the international rankings and re-establish its presence on the world stage.

New Zealand had earlier secured qualification for the Hockey Pro League by defeating Pakistan in the final of the FIH Nations Cup held in Malaysia.

However, with the Black Sticks pulling out, Pakistan have now been offered their spot.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s recent campaign at the FIH Nations Cup ended on a bittersweet note, as they finished runners-up after a 6-2 defeat to New Zealand in the final.

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Despite a strong start to the tournament, the Pakistan hockey team were outplayed in the title clash.

New Zealand had two early goals disallowed but eventually broke through in the sixth minute via a penalty corner from Scott Cosslett. Sam Hiha added another just before the first quarter ended.

The Kiwis then tightened their grip in the second quarter, adding three more goals through Dylan Thomas, Sean Findlay, and Scott Boyde to take a 5-0 lead into half-time.

The Pakistan hockey team mounted a fleeting resurgence in the third quarter, spurred on by a striking goal from Zikriya Hayat that momentarily ignited hopes for a turnaround.

However, their struggles became evident as they failed to capitalise on five crucial penalty corners, a missed opportunity that ultimately proved costly.

Cosslett added his second of the night in the final quarter to make it 6-1, before Sufyan Khan scored a late consolation.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan hockey team has qualified for the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup, despite the hosts, Malaysia, emerging victorious against Japan here on Wednesday.

Malaysia secured a 2-1 win against Japan but was eliminated from the tournament due to goal difference and points with Pakistan.

The Green Shirts reached the semi-finals with nine goals while Malaysia scored eight in their three matches of the tournament.

The semi-finals of the event will take place on June 20th, with Pakistan facing France and New Zealand playing Korea.

On day three of the tournament, Malaysia dominated the game against Japan, leading with two goals till the third quarter. Sumantri Norsyafiq opened the account, scoring the opening goal in the last stage of the first quarter.

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In the second quarter, Azrai Abu Kamal fired another goal as Malaysia took a 2-0 lead with an eye on the final four spot. Japan put in a strong effort in the third quarter and earned plenty corners. However, solid Malaysian defence kept them away from the nets.

However, Yamasaki Koji dashed Malaysian hopes of qualifying for the semi-final with a goal in the penultimate half of the match.

Earlier, the New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3, sealing a semi-final spot.

Pakistan had a 3-1 lead for most of the third quarter, but New Zealand’s Scott Cosslett struck two goals, which levelled the scores.

The match became tense in the last quarter of the game as both teams sought to score a goal, but for Blackstick, it was Scott Cosslett again who scored the decisive goal, giving his team a thrilling victory.

Pakistan defeated Japan comprehensively, while the match with Malaysia ended in a draw.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3 in the ongoing FIH Nations Cup 2025 here on Wednesday.

With three wins in three games, New Zealand secured top position in Pool B.

Pakistan had a 3-1 lead for most of the third quarter, but New Zealand’s Scott Cosslett struck two goals, which levelled the scores.

The match started with New Zealand Nic Woods scoring a goal in the first quarter; however, Pakistan fought back with Abdul Rehman scoring two vital goals, which brought his team into a dominant position.

Pakistan showed determination as New Zealand players were kept at bay for most of the second quarter. Meanwhile, Rana Waheed Ashraf struck another goal as the scorecard read 3-1.

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With this lead, the match was going Pakistan’s way, but the third quarter dashed Pakistan’s hopes of topping Pool B. New Zealand scored twice in the second-to-last quarter as the scores were level.

The match became tense in the last quarter of the game as both teams sought to score a goal, but for New Zealand, it was Scott Cosslett again who scored the decisive goal, giving his team a thrilling victory.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Japan while the match with the hosts, Malaysia, ended in a draw. With four points, the Green Shirts now have ample chance to qualify for the semi-final of the Nations Cup.

Currently, Pakistan sits in second position in pool B with four points, while Malaysia will face Japan in the upcoming encounter.

Pakistan squad for FIH Nations Cup

Ammad Butt (captain), Rana Waheed (vice captain), Muneer-ur-Rehman, Abdullah Ishtiaq, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Moeen Shakeel, Zikriya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Nadeem and Mohibullah.

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