AI Simulation, ZIM vs NZ | Kiwis gear up for Proteas challenge in tri-series finale with routine win over Chevrons

Today at 7:42 PM

As per AI, Tim Seifert will score a second consecutive half-century to help New Zealand earn a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe at Harare on July 24

As per Chat GPT, New Zealand will emerge through the Zimbabwe challenge unscathed in Harare on Thursday as they cruise to a six-wicket victory. After restricting the Chevrons to 138/7, a century opening stand between Devon Conway and Tim Seifert ensured the hosts end the tri-series winless.

Pitch and Weather

Harare Sports Club offered a relatively flat wicket for the two nationsunlike the slow and dry surfaces on offer through the series so far. True pace and bounce thus made for easy shot-making, albeit plenty of grip remained for the spinners to take advantage of.

The skies were clear throughout the encounter and the humidity gradually wore away as the day progressed, culminating into a pleasant cool winter morning.

Toss

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first, keeping in line with the tournament's trends so far.

Lineups

Zimbabwe: Wessly Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Will O'Rourke, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy

Match Report

Zimbabwe began their final game of the tournament with purpose as Wessly Madhavere and Brian Bennett traded boundaries through the powerplay to take the team to 47 without loss after six. However, the complexion of the game took a complete 180 when Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner sent the duo packing in successive overs, bringing Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl to the crease. Unlike the openers, the new duo struggled for rhythm with the skipper particularly bogged down at one end. The partnership dragged onto 30 at nearly run-a-ball when Milne finally ended Raza's misery and in an eerie co-incidence, Santner doubled down the very next over once again by dispatching Burl after a 15-ball 20. No batter managed to cross 20 thereafter as quick spirited cameos were accompanied with equally breeze dismissals. Tony Munyonga had the most impact in the lower order with a 14-ball knock of 18 laced with two fours, but it was only enough to take Zimbabwe to a paltry 138/7 at the end of their allotted quota.

Tim Seifert began the chase with consecutive boundaries off Blessing Muzarabani, then repeated the antics against Richard Ngarava to get the Kiwis off to a flying start. Devon Conway joined the party soon after and struck four boundaries within the powerplay to take the team to a resounding 56/0 in six overs. The introduction of spinners Raza and Wellington Masakdza helped the hosts do some damage control as the next six overs produced just 40 runs but a breakthrough still eluded them. Seifert brought up a second fifty on the trot with an audacious six off Tinotenda Maposa to take the opening stand past 100, and then promptly holed out the very next ball. Conway departed too the next over, two short of a half-century, but the job was already done as the Kiwis needed less than run-a-ball with six overs to go. Even though the Chevrons managed to et the consolation wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman thereafter, it added little jeopardy to the situation as Daryl Mitchell scored the winning runs on the final ball of the 18th over to complete a comfortable victory.

Player of the Match

Tim Seifert was the clear front-runner to bag the man of the match award after a flamboyant 36-ball half-century formed part of a 102-run stand with Devon Conway and helped New Zealand ace the chase without much ado.