Follow UsIf anyone wants to learn the art of defending six runs in the final over of a T20 game, call Matt Henry. The New Zealander presented a perfect masterclass against a young South African unit in the final of the Tri-Series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on July 26 (Saturday).
After being set a target of 181 to win, South Africa were cruising towards it with young sensation Dewald Brevis batting at 31 off just 10 balls and having a more than decent batter, George Linde, at the other end on 10 off 9 balls.
Henry, who had previously given away 16 runs in his first two overs of the game, was given the responsibility of defending six runs for an outright win. He bowled a bouncer first up, completely taking Brevis by surprise.
After a dot on the first ball, Brevis tried to tonk the length ball on the second delivery over mid-wicket for a six, but was caught brilliantly by Michael Bracewell, who stepped over the boundary ropes and then came back to take a difficult catch with the utmost ease.
Bracewell had an opportunity to take another stunner, but dropped Corbin Bosch on the next ball, which was also short of good length and probably a slower one too.
After a two on the third ball, Henry bowled a yorker and due to Linde slipping while trying to return for a second, only one run could be taken, leaving South Africa to get four off the last two.
The New Zealander threw in all his experience on the fifth ball and, knowing that Linde is not someone who will move too much in the crease to try and make room and then hit him, he bowled a length ball outside off, which rose a bit high and made Linde hit it without being in great control.
The ball still flew, but not far enough from a flying Daryl Mitchell at long-on, who grabbed a brilliant catch to hand New Zealand almost the trophy. Senuran Muthusamy at the crease on the last ball, with four needed, was not even able to touch it, leading to a famous three-run win for the Kiwis.
Earlier, thanks to two Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batters, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra hitting 47 each and a 30 at the top from Tim Seifert, New Zealand reached 180/5 in their 20 overs.