In their two previous encounters in the Zimbabwean capital, the Black Caps claimed relatively comfortable victories. In the first match of the series between the two sides, Rob Walter’s charges secured a 21-run win, while in the second, they beat South Africa by seven wickets.

South Africa’s batting up front has been a concern throughout the tournament, with only the occasional standout knock. However, the Proteas have maintained it’s not a major issue and forms part of the broader process.

Tim Robinson. Photo: Zimbabwe Cricket

That said, heading into Saturday’s final, the top order will need to fire, and strong partnerships will be vital. Coach Shukri Conrad is expected to select his strongest possible XI, and with several tourists having featured during the series, there are options to consider.

Despite losing twice to New Zealand, what really matters is the final. Seasoned seamer Lungi Ngidi emphasised that execution will be key.

“To be honest with you, whichever team plays better on the day is probably the team that’s going to come out on top,” said Ngidi.

“We've played some good cricket, but we’ve also made some silly errors against New Zealand. So we know it’s possible – we just need to fine-tune our game plan for Saturday. The main thing is that whoever shows up and performs on the day will likely walk away with the win.”

Ngidi added this is also part of their build-up towards the next ICC T20 World Cup, where momentum and consistent improvement are crucial.

“We’re working towards the T20 World Cup, but one thing the coach has made clear is that we take it one series at a time. That’s the bigger picture, yes, but there’s a process leading up to that.

Lungi Ngidi. Photo: Cricinfo

“That’s where we are now – focusing on one game at a time, fixing the errors along the way before the big stage. The most important thing the coach has told us is not to look too far ahead, but rather to face the challenges in front of us.

“Saturday is one of those challenges. To come out on top against what is probably a near full-strength New Zealand side would be a massive boost – especially with some of the youngsters we’ve got here. That would be a huge positive for us moving forward.”

Saturday’s final between South Africa and New Zealand at the Harare Sports Club gets underway at 13:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg