NZ vs SA

4:12 PM local time, 7:42 PM IST: So, New Zealand go into the final with a lot of confidence! In fact, they have the chance to assess their game one more time on Thursday when they take on hosts Zimbabwe at 1:00 PM local time (4:30 PM IST). As for South Africa, it is about getting back to the drawing boards and formulating plans to get the better of this same opposition on Saturday. Because all that matters, is winning the trophy! As for now, this is the pair of Soorya and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand captain): "I think the way we bowled in the power play was outstanding! Able to chip wickets away, which was the thing. We thought that we got a lot of swing up front. We were able to squeeze them from there. The way we went with the bat was exceptional! As a spinner, it is always nice to get some turn! We don't get much back home, so, it's helpful to get it here. We will look at our options for Saturday, assess, and pick our team. Let' see how things go in the next game first!" 

Tim Seifert is the Player of the Match for his 66* off 48. Here's what he has to say: Always good from a confidence point of view to help the team come to victory. We've been playing good cricket and different batters have chipped in as well. Zimbabwe have some taller guys and South Africa's bowlers are more skiddy. Happy to have come good. It's just adapting to the conditions. One of those wickets where you never feel like you're in. If you bowl well you get the rewards. On wickets like that you have to graft away sometimes.

Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa captain): I think we expected that (the conditions). We weren't good enough. The ball would do something upfront, we knew that from the first three games. We weren't up to the challenge. They bowled really well and we lost wickets throughout. We struggled to gain any sort of momentum. (On Pretorius batting down the order) Experimental phase, having a look at Lhuan-dre in the middle. We know how cleanly he hits the ball at the top of the order. Unfortunately he didn't get going today but it was about trying a few things. Muthusamy again put in a great performance on a personal level. Low score so no real scoreboard pressure for him to work with and he still found a way to be effective. Try to find the best combination (before the final). We were off with bat, ball and on the field today. Try and get our best combination and come well on Saturday. (On losing two to New Zealand having stated it's a three-match series) There's still a trophy (laughs). If we do well on Saturday we can still lift the trophy.

3:55 PM local time, 7:25 PM IST: New Zealand win by 7 wickets with 25 balls to spare!

Tim Seifert 66* (48) | Adam Milne - 2/21 (4)
Reeza Hendricks 41 (37) | Senuran Muthusamy - 2/24 (4)

The first two balls bowled in the innings weren't legitimate, but went for six runs and the first two overs went for as many was 23! That set the tone for what was to follow! 

Yes, New Zealand did play two unnecessary shots to get out, there were a couple of iffy moments again which should have been handled with better sense, but by and large, South Africa were outplayed in this match and surely in this innings. 

Devon Conway and Tim Seifert took off brilliantly, scoring runs at a canter and bringing up a 50-run stand for the first wicket! New Zealand also registered the highest power play score of the series. 

Both Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman took on Senuran Muthusamy with the turn and got holed out in the deep on the on-side - the first at long-on while the second at deep square. That was the time when the Proteas got an outside chance of getting back into the contest. 

But barring a run out chance that Daryl Mitchell gave, New Zealand rolled along with distinction to finish the game early! Seifert batted rather beautifully to make the most of this outing and Mitchell chipped in with some nice shots to entertain one and all. 

The bowling, bowling changes, fielding and captaincy left a bit to be desired from South Africa! Like their selection, they need to get things right before the final. 

15.5 Kwena Maphaka to Tim Seifert, FOUR! SEALED IN STYLE! Too easy for Seifert as he sits low and helps this full one angling in too straight over fine leg. Placed very wide of short fine leg as he picks his spot and it's very fitting that Seifert has the final say after what has been a high quality innings. New Zealand win by 7 wickets and confirm the top spot on the table!

15.4 Kwena Maphaka to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Shoves a bouncer into the stumps. Mitchell looks to hook it fine before it slants down to the keeper. Pretorius is not pleased with the wide call

15.3 Kwena Maphaka to Tim Seifert, pace off as he backs away looking to open up the off-side. Seifert chips this good length ball at the stumps wide of mid-off as it drops way short of the man. Just a single

15.2 Kwena Maphaka to Tim Seifert, AH! Hard length around the off stump. Seifert swivels looking to help it fine but gets into a tangle, wearing it on his midriff

15.1 Kwena Maphaka to Daryl Mitchell, full outside off from around the wicket. Mitchell carves it inside out over cover point without middling. Just a single to the sweeper

Kwena Maphaka [2.0-0-11-0] comes back into the attack.

Will New Zealand finish it in this over itself? We get a sneaky feeling that they will, you know! But Coetzee has been disappointing with his deliveries today. He got his chance, but perhaps spilled it. 

14.6 Gerald Coetzee to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Dug into the track outside the off stump. Mitchell looks to upper-cut it over third man before it zooms over his head. Wide given for height!