In a thrilling finale at the Harare Sports Club, New Zealand clinched the T20 Tri-Series title with a narrow three-run victory over South Africa. The match went down to the wire, with Matt Henry holding his nerve in the final over to defend a meager seven runs.

New Zealand's innings saw them post a competitive 180 for 5 after being put in to bat. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra led the charge with identical scores of 47, providing a solid foundation for the middle order to build on. Tim Seifert contributed a useful 30 at the top of the order. Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 24 runs.

South Africa's chase began strongly, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius scoring a fluent 51 off 35 balls and Reeza Hendricks contributing 37. The opening pair put on a 92-run partnership, seemingly setting the stage for a comfortable victory. However, New Zealand's bowlers fought back, with Jacob Duffy triggering a collapse by removing both openers.

The middle order faltered, but Dewald Brevis injected some much-needed momentum with a quickfire 31 off 16 balls. With seven runs needed off the final over and six wickets in hand, South Africa appeared to be in control. However, Matt Henry had other plans.

Henry dismissed Brevis on the second ball of the over, with Michael Bracewell taking a spectacular catch. George Linde was then caught by Daryl Mitchell at long-on. With four runs needed off the last delivery, Henry bowled a dot ball to Senuran Muthusamy, sealing a dramatic victory for New Zealand. Henry finished with figures of 2 for 19 from his three overs. He was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.

The victory capped off a perfect series for New Zealand, who remained undefeated throughout the tournament. The Black Caps won all five of their matches, showcasing their composure under pressure and clinical execution in key moments.

South Africa, on the other hand, will rue their missed opportunities. Despite a promising start to their chase, they faltered in the final stages, unable to handle the pressure. The South African skipper, Rassie van der Dussen, acknowledged the fine margins in the game, noting that "It's a game of millimetres".

Matt Henry's heroics in the final over will be remembered as one of the most dramatic finishes in T20 cricket. His ability to perform under pressure proved to be the difference, as New Zealand secured the T20 Tri-Series title. With this win, New Zealand gained valuable momentum ahead of upcoming global tournaments. They will now shift their focus to a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, starting on July 30. South Africa will face Australia in a three-match T20I series, beginning on August 10.