Seifert, Ravindra and Sodhi keep NZ's 100% record intact
Zimbabwe end their tri-series campaign with no wins in four games with serious questions around their batting depth
Zimbabwe end their tri-series campaign with no wins in four games with serious questions around their batting depth
Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
4:37pm That will be all from us for this game. There is still a lot of cricket on, though. Over in Manchester, England are making a very good fist of their response to India's 358. Hop over for all the live action. Until next time, from everyone here at ESPNcricinfo, this is goodbye!
Ish Sodhi, Player of the Match: Great team win. Always nice to contribute with a few wickets. (On bowling inside the powerplay) Slightly new role for me, trying to find my feet with that. I have not bowled a lot in the powerplay in my career. Nice to be able to contribute in a new role. (On if the pitch helped him) Definitely. I think it was quite low. When you bowled cross-seam, it kept a little low and I used that. (On possibly looking for a five-wicket haul) You can get a little bit greedy at times (laughs). If you keep putting the ball in the right areas, hopefully the wickets will keep coming.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: (What stood out) The way we set it up with the bat. When you get a 100-run partnership, it puts you in a good position. They (Ravindra and Seifert) took us to a pretty good score on a tricky-ish wicket. Throughout the series, we have done a lot of good stuff. Nice to put a score on the board. Different guys stepping up at different times is a good thing, although it can be a selection headache at times (smiles). We know we have a massive game in a couple of days' time. Just preparing and getting ready (for Saturday). We kind of know what they (South Africa) can do and what the pitch offers, so more about the execution now. The way Ish bowled, especially in the powerplay, it is a new role for him and he was outstanding. If you can take wickets in the powerplay, it puts you in a good position.
Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe captain: The wicket was certainly getting better in the second innings. Pretty much the same mistakes in the powerplay that we repeated today. The message we got after the first over was that it was a good wicket. We keep digging ourselves a hole and when we try to climb out of it, we don't. The catches we dropped, the two individuals (Bracewell and Seifert) hurt us. As much as we wanted to be upbeat, it took us a bit of time to get into the game. One of the things I will speak (to my team), is that it is never a dead rubber for Zimbabwe. With the Test matches, we will have some of the senior cavalry back. Sean, Craig, I will be back, Blessing as well. With the young guys, something I said to myself, is that it will take time and patience. I have to take that role and I have accepted that role. Have to be patient with the boys, and hope that we do not repeat the same mistakes. The fielding and the attitude is a non-negotiable in the dressing room. Hopefully we can have a better outing (in the upcoming Tests).
4:20pm Four matches, four wins for New Zealand in the group stage. And this one never felt in doubt, despite Myers' early fireworks in the chase. That, though, was a very brief flicker of hope, with Zimbabwe losing three wickets soon after, and finishing the powerplay four down. Munyonga and Musekiwa found the fence a few times towards the end, but that only reduced the margin of defeat, rather than instigating a turnaround.
Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, bagging four wickets and giving away just 12 runs. He also got his 150th T20I wicket in the process and was well supported by the others, who all chipped in to ensure that NZ maintain their spotless record heading into the final against South Africa on Saturday.
T Gwandu run out 2 (10m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40
Zimbabwe end their tri-series campaign with no wins in four games with serious questions around their batting depth