1. New Coach, Old Foes – A Winning Start for Rob Walter(T20)
It was poetic justice for Rob Walter in his very first match as coach of New Zealand–he was opposing his former team, South Africa. The old foes made it tough for Walter in what was a close contest, with the coach sweating through his first win with his new squad contrastingly clad in black.
2. Robinson Rises in Crisis Mode
At 70 for 5, New Zealand looked in trouble. Enter Tim Robinson, whose unbeaten 75 stitched the innings back together. Calm, composed, and clever, he played the kind of knock teams remember in big tournaments.
3. Jacobs Makes a Dream Debut
Bevon Jacobs, the South African-born Kiwi debutant, did more than just support Robinson – he finished with an unbeaten 44 and was crucial in New Zealand posting 173. That 103-run stand was the lifeline.
4. Duffy and Henry Blow Away with the Ball
Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry were on fire with the ball, striking with three wickets each. Henry announced his comeback in style, while Duffy fittingly wrapped it up with two wickets in the 18th over.
5. South Africa Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 174, South Africa never really got going. Brevis and Linde tried to hold the innings together, but none of the partnerships could match what New Zealand had done already.
6. Coetzee Returns, Showing Signs of Rust
After a nine-month injury layoff, Gerald Coetzee started strong but faltered later. His 1 for 39 were largely the most expensive returns for South Africa-consider it a work in progress for his rhythm!
7. Pretorius Starts with a Bang, Finishes with a Whimper
Much promise from Lhuan-dre Pretorius—-early knock of four boundaries. Doused over the next 25 runs, he could not anchor the top order that came under severe pressure.
8. The Fielding that Changed the Game
New Zealand’s fielders did not only save runs; they made wickets. Van der Dussen’s run-out was a game-changing prophecy for anyone-real hustle equals ultimate alertness-change games.
9. South Africa’s Middle Order: A Riddle to Be Solved
South Africa’s batting appeared out of sync, with all-rounders stacked from No. 4 onwards. They were hindered by the absence of consistent partnerships and might require a shuffle ahead of Saturday.
10. A Win, But a Learning Ground for Both Teams
New Zealand must be delighted with the fightback and the fitting performances from some new faces, while South Africa must quickly put some order into their batting and rhythm into their bowling as the Tri-Series heats up.
Final Word
The second match was Tri-Series where comebacks, partnerships, and pressure situations abounded. New Zealand held their nerve, while South Africa lost theirs, all culminating in a win for Rob Walter, who started a new chapter against a team that once called him their own.
October 9, 2025