Matt Henry’s Last-Over Brilliance Secures T20I Title for New Zealand

New Zealand’s Matt Henry delivered a standout performance in the Twenty20 International Tri-Series final, clinching a dramatic three-run victory over South Africa in Harare on July 26, 2025. With South Africa needing just eight runs from the final eight balls, Henry’s exceptional bowling and key catches from his teammates turned the tide in a nail-biting finish.

Chasing a target of 181 runs, South Africa appeared to be on track, needing only seven runs from the last over with six wickets remaining. However, Henry restricted their scoring to a mere three runs, leaving them at 177 for 6. In a pivotal moment, South African cricketer Dewald Brevis looked set to secure the win with 31 runs off 16 balls. He launched Henry’s delivery towards the square-leg boundary, but Michael Bracewell made a stunning catch, juggling the ball while stepping back into play.

Another critical moment came when Daryl Mitchell executed an impressive diving catch at long-off, dismissing George Linde, who had also threatened to win the game for South Africa. The final delivery saw Henry bowling to Senuran Muthusamy, who failed to connect, sealing the win for New Zealand. Henry concluded the match with outstanding figures of 2 for 19 from three overs.

Henry expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “As a group we have been playing some really good cricket and to get over the line in a really tight game, I am proud of the guys. It is credit to the attitude of our team, making sure we stay in the fight and knowing that wickets can change things.”

South Africa’s Strong Start Falls Short

South Africa’s innings included a solid contribution from teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored 51 runs off 35 balls. The team seemed to be coasting towards victory until a sudden collapse after the dismissal of Brevis. South Africa captain Rassie van der Dussen acknowledged the team’s effort despite the loss, saying, “We played a pretty good game, it was a match of millimetres. We have had guys making debuts and experimented a bit (in the series), so for the young guys to come in and get so close, we will learn a lot from this.”

New Zealand’s victory marks a remarkable achievement, as they secured five consecutive wins to claim the T20I Tri-Series trophy. The tournament also included Zimbabwe, who struggled throughout, losing all four of their group matches.

As the Tri-Series concluded, the Black Caps celebrated their triumph, while South Africa reflected on the valuable experience gained from the series.