South Africa vs New Zealand Prediction: Bam Bam to slam his way to top bat glory

Heavyweights South Africa and New Zealand meet in the second match of the Zimbabwe T20 Tri-Series at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday (12:00).

It's the Black Caps first outing in the three-nation tournament, while South Africa already have two points on the board courtesy of Monday's five-wicket win over the hosts, Zimbabwe. Read on for my South Africa vs New Zealand prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

South Africa will be tempted to keep the top five together after their winning start against Zimbabwe. Left-arm prodigy, 19-year-old Kwena Maphake, may have to wait to be drafted in.

New Zealand have plenty of decisions to make with a quartet of stars, including Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, having flown in from Sunday's MLC final in Texas. Mitchell Santner captains the side with Kane Williamson sitting it out.

Devin Conway has been drafted in as a replacement for fellow opener Finn Allen, who is injured.

South Africa vs New Zealand Odds

It is no doubt the experience in the New Zealand ranks which has helped earn them an 8/11 quote with South Africa available at 11/10. The highest individual score by a player has been set at 67.5 (5/6 over/under).

Tim Seifert top team batter @ 7/2

There is no shortage of power in the New Zealand top order and no one in better form than opener Tim Seifert.

Seifert was the outstanding batter in New Zealand's last series at home to Pakistan, a five-match affair which the hosts won 4-1.

The 30-year-old wicketkeeper/batter piled up 249 runs in those five games, almost 100 more than anyone else, and has reached double figures in each of his last eight international T20 knocks.

Bam Bam, as he's known, has kept his eye since that series success by performing for Karachi Kings in the PSL and San Francisco in the MLC and expect him to ping the lids brightly in Harare.

You rarely need to look much further than the top four for top-scorer honours in T20s, especially in this fixture with the Black Caps up against a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.

Rassie van der Dussen top team batter @ 14/5

Relative newcomers Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis took the batting honours for South Africa against Zimbabwe in the Tri-Series opener on Sunday, combining to produce a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 72 for the eventual victors.

Skipper Rassie van der Dussen had earlier made 16 off 13 balls, featuring just three scoring shots.

The veteran is still an absolute superstar at the shortest format and his contributions at No.3 will be critical as the tournament evolves.

Massively experienced, in this game he needs to stick around and construct a major innings to take top run-scoring honours for his team.

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