By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Black Caps continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing tri-series as they defeated Proteas by seven wickets in the fifth match at Harare Sports Club.
Tim Seifert was the star of the game with a match-winning knock that earned him the Player of the Match award.
Opening batter Seifert, dropped in the first over before he had scored, hit an unbeaten 66 off 48 balls to guide the Black Caps to their target of 135 with more than four overs to spare.
Earlier, South Africa tinkered with its batting order but the experiment of using captain Rassie van der Dussen as an opener failed to pay off as the team could only make 134-8. Reeza Hendricks top-scored with 41 off 37 balls and George Linde stroked an unbeaten 23.
Jacob Duffy and Adam Milne took two wickets each while fellow pace bowler Zachary Foulkes only conceded 12 runs in his three overs.
The Proteas packed their team with spin bowlers but the tactic unravelled in the first over, bowled by left-arm spinner George Linde, as they attempted to defend a low total.
Linde started with two wides, one of which went to the boundary for four extra runs. Then Seifert was dropped at long-off before he had scored. The over cost 15 runs.
Seifert and fellow opener Devon Conway (19) took the total to 50 in the first five overs and the Black Caps were in control for the rest of the match.
“The way we bowled in the power play was outstanding,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. “Our bowlers found a length and found some swing and we were able to squeeze from there.”
New Zealand will go into the final with a 2-0 record against South Africa after beating the Proteas by 21 runs earlier in the tri-series.