Zimbabwe vs New Zealand T20I 2025: NZ Opts to Bowl First in Harare, Hosts Eye Comeback: In the third match of the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against hosts Zimbabwe at the iconic Harare Sports Club. The match is crucial for Zimbabwe, who are yet to register a win in the series after a defeat to South Africa in their opening game2.
Toss & Team News
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner chose to field first, hoping to exploit early movement on the Harare pitch. The Kiwis made four changes to their playing XI, bringing in:
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mark Chapman
- Michael Bracewell
- Adam Milne
These players replaced Tim Robinson, Mitch Hay, James Neesham, and Ish Sodhi.
Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, made just one change, bringing in Tinotenda Maposa for Wellington Masakadza.
Playing XIs
Zimbabwe: Wessly Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy2
Series Context
- New Zealand enters the match with momentum, having defeated South Africa by 21 runs in their previous outing.
- Zimbabwe, on the other hand, suffered a five-wicket loss to South Africa and must win today to stay in contention for the final3.
This is the first T20I between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in nearly a decade, with the last encounter dating back to August 2015. Zimbabwe has never beaten New Zealand in a T20I match.
Streaming Info
- Match Time: 4:30 PM IST
- Venue: Harare Sports Club
- Live Streaming in India: Available on FanCode app and website
With high stakes and fresh lineups, the Zimbabwe vs New Zealand clash promises a thrilling contest. Can Sikandar Raza’s men break their losing streak, or will the Blackcaps extend their dominance?
Stay tuned for live updates and post-match analysis.
