Proteas snatch defeat from jaws of victory as Black Caps claim Tri-Series crown in Harare
In a thrilling encounter at Harare, New Zealand clinched the Tri-series T20 final against South Africa by a mere three runs on Saturday.
Winning the toss, the Proteas opted to bowl first, a decision that initially seemed promising but ultimately proved to be a challenging one.
The Kiwis started their innings with a strong foundation as their top three batters contributed substantially to a formidable total of 180 runs. Devon Conway and Tim Seifert forged an effective partnership that saw them set the pace early on.
Conway's innings unfolded impressively, before he fell to Lungi Ngidi for a well-played 47 off 31 balls. Seifert, also with a notable contribution of 30 runs from 28 balls, was dismissed in the 9th over, leaving the Proteas desperate for breakthroughs.
In the midst of a growing Kiwi momentum, Rachin Ravindra emerged as the game-changer. He wreaked havoc on the Proteas with a blistering 47 runs from just 27 deliveries, boasting a strike rate of 174.
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