The final league-stage clash of the Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series will see the hosts take on the table-toppers, New Zealand, at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, July 24.
This encounter serves as a last chance for Sikandar Raza and his men to salvage pride with Zimbabwe already eliminated. Meanwhile, the in-form Black Caps, unbeaten in the series so far, will be aiming to fine-tune their plans ahead of the final.
Set to begin at 4:30 PM IST, this dead rubber still holds relevance as it offers punters and fans a final look at both teams before the championship decider.
Can Zimbabwe spring a surprise, or will New Zealand continue their dominant run? Here's our comprehensive match preview, featuring predictions, lineups, odds, and live updates.
Head-to-head record: Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand in T20Is
New Zealand have completely dominated Zimbabwe in their T20I encounters, winning all seven matches played between the two sides. The most recent clash came on July 18, 2025, in this very series, where the Black Caps cruised to an 8-wicket victory at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe are yet to register a win against New Zealand in the shortest format, highlighting the gap in class and experience between the two teams.
- Total matches: 7
- Zimbabwe wins: 0
- New Zealand wins: 7
- Tied/No result: 0
Top players to watch: Batters & Bowlers
Batters to watch
Brian Bennett (ZIM): One of the few bright spots in Zimbabwe’s struggling batting lineup, Brian Bennett has scored 112 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 37.33. He will once again be crucial if Zimbabwe hopes to post a competitive total against the in-form Kiwis.
Tim Seifert (NZ): New Zealand’s consistent top-order performer, Tim Seifert has amassed 91 runs in three games at an average of 45.50. His ability to provide explosive starts makes him a key threat to Zimbabwe’s bowling attack.
Bowlers to watch
Richard Ngarava (ZIM): Despite Zimbabwe’s struggles, Richard Ngarava has shown promise with the ball, claiming 4 wickets at an economy of 7.36. He’ll be key to applying pressure on New Zealand’s top order in the early overs.
Jacob Duffy (NZ): A standout in New Zealand’s bowling unit, Jacob Duffy has picked up 5 wickets in three matches while maintaining an excellent economy rate of 6.36. His ability to strike early and keep things tight makes him a valuable asset in the powerplay.
ZIM vs. NZ betting odds & predictions: Who has the edge?
According to Parimatch, New Zealand enter the contest as clear favourites with odds of 1.16, reflecting their unbeaten run and complete dominance over Zimbabwe in T20Is.
The hosts are massive underdogs at 5.29, having lost all three games in the series and all seven previous head-to-head clashes. Given current form and depth, the Black Caps are strongly backed to continue their winning streak.
Odds | |
Zimbabwe | 5.29 |
New Zealand | 1.16 |
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TSN’s Top 3 Predictions:
- New Zealand to win: With a perfect record in the series and historical dominance over Zimbabwe, the Black Caps are firm favourites to seal another comfortable victory.
- Tim Seifert to score 30+ runs: The in-form opener has been a consistent performer and is expected to deliver another solid knock at the top.
- Jacob Duffy to take 2+ wickets: Duffy’s disciplined bowling and knack for early breakthroughs make him a strong candidate for multiple wickets again.
Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand: Expected playing XIs and team news
Zimbabwe Team News
Zimbabwe are expected to make a key change for their final group match, with premier pacer Blessing Muzarabani likely to return to the playing XI in place of Trevor Gwandu, who featured in the last game.
Muzarabani missed the previous outing due to a personal loss but is anticipated to strengthen Zimbabwe's pace attack alongside Richard Ngarava. Captain Sikandar Raza remains the central figure with both bat and ball, especially after his unbeaten 54 against South Africa. The team will be hoping for better starts from the top order to pose a real challenge at home.
ZIM predicted XI: Brian Bennett, Wesley Madhevere, Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Masekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Titotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
New Zealand Team News
The Black Caps are expected to rotate their squad slightly for the final league game, with Matt Henry and Bevon Jacobs likely to return in place of Zachary Foulkes and William O’Rourke. Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand continue to benefit from depth and form across the lineup.
Tim Robinson, fresh off a dominant 75* against South Africa, and Jacob Duffy, who picked up 3/20 in the same match, are likely to retain their places. The team remains well-balanced and determined to maintain its unbeaten run.
NZ predicted XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy
ZIM vs. NZ live scorecard: 6th T20I
To follow the action between Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand live, you can make use of the live scorecard feature on Parimatch's website.
Navigate to the game of your choice and click the scorecard icon to follow along, and bet live with the action with a trusted site.
Where to watch Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand 6th T20I in India
- Venue: Harare Sports Club
- Date & Time (IST): Thursday, July 24, 4:30 pm (IST)
- Live Broadcast and Streaming Details: Fancode (app and website)
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