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.

His dismissal came at a crucial moment when he failed to connect adequately with a low full toss from Nandre Burger, only for Dewald Brevis to claim the catch. Despite losing Ravindra, the Kiwis accelerated at the death, adding 37 runs in the final three overs, with Daryl Mitchell remaining unbeaten on 16 as New Zealand set a challenging target of 181 for the Proteas to chase.

As the Proteas took to the field for their chase, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Reeza Hendricks ignited their innings with a formidable opening partnership. Pretorius, who dazzled the crowd with his aggressive style, scored a brisk half-century (51 off 35 balls) before being stumped by Seifert.

Hendricks added valuable runs, anchoring the innings with his 37 runs before Zakary Foulkes sent him back to the pavilion.

Captain Rassie van der Dussen followed, but his time at the crease was fleeting, scoring just 18 runs before falling victim to Adam Milne, who was aided by Daryl Mitchell's catch.

The onus of the chase then rested on the shoulders of Brevis, who made a spirited attempt, scoring 31 runs off 16 balls at an explosive strike rate of 193 to reduce the target to eight required off eight balls. 

However, in a pivotal moment, Matt Henry struck down the promising Brevis off the second ball of the last over, effectively crushing the Proteas' hopes for a successful chase.

The remaining batters struggled to sustain the charge against New Zealand's relentless bowling attack, particularly under the pressure applied by Henry, who concluded as the standout bowler for the Kiwis.

In the end, the South Africans were left just short, unable to finish strong, succumbing under the pressure of a well-orchestrated Kiwi performance.