Arjit - Thursday, Jul 17, 2025ZIM vs NZ: This third match of this tri-series is important for both the teams. New Zealand played their first match in this tournament against South Africa in which they won by 21 runs, while Zimbabwe faced defeat in their first match against South Africa.
Match: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I Match
Series: Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025
Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
Time IST: 4:30 PM (16:30 IST) / Local Time (ZIM): 1:00 PM
Stadium: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
Broadcaster (India): Not telecast on TV. Live streaming will be available on the FanCode app and website.
Live scores: will be available on Possible11, Cricbuzz, ESPNcricinfo and other major cricket websites.
Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe team led by Sikandar Raza will be desperate to make a mark on the home ground. How they performed in their first match against South Africa will determine their confidence for this match. Zimbabwe has some experienced players like Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl and Wesley Madhevere who can prove to be match winners in the T20 format. Young players have also got a chance, and they would like to take advantage of the home conditions. Their bowling attack includes fast bowlers like Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, who can be effective on African pitches.
New Zealand: New Zealand is starting its campaign in this tri-series. The Kiwi team led by Mitchell Santner is adorned with strong and experienced players. Devon Conway has returned due to Finn Allen's injury, and he can open the innings with Tim Seifert. Players like Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Jimmy Neesham will strengthen the middle order and have the ability to hit big hits. In bowling, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy will provide balance to the team. New Zealand would like to start their campaign with a win in this match.
A total of 15 T20I matches have been played between Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
This record is clearly tilted in favour of New Zealand, giving them a psychological edge in this encounter. However, Zimbabwe is playing at home, which could be an incentive for them.
The pitch at Harare Sports Club is generally considered to be helpful for both batsmen and bowlers. Pacers might get help for a few overs at the start of the match. It is not a very high scoring ground, where even a score of 170-180 can be a winning one, which is different from scores in excess of 200 in modern T20 standards. As the ball gets softer, batsmen will have to be cautious before playing their natural game. Out of the 58 matches played at this ground, 34 have been won by the team batting first. The average first innings score is 153 runs, so the team batting first will aim to score 170-180 runs.
Some important picks and tips for fantasy cricket:
Note: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (BAN) can be removed from the probable Dream11 team and another Zimbabwean or New Zealand player can be included, such as an additional fast bowler or batsman.
New Zealand are a strong team on paper and their head-to-head record is also good against Zimbabwe. However, Zimbabwe will have the advantage of playing on their home ground. This is the first match of the tournament for New Zealand, while Zimbabwe have already played a match. Still, New Zealand's experience and quality make them the favorites.
Our Prediction: New Zealand will win this match.
