The New Zealand national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team match scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final records one of the most dominant knockout performances of the tournament. New Zealand defeated South Africa by nine wickets at Eden Gardens in Kolkata after restricting the Proteas to 169/8 and then reaching 173/1 in only 12.5 overs.
The match was played on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with New Zealand winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. South Africa’s innings was built around Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 55 from 30 balls and useful contributions from Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs. However, New Zealand’s bowlers kept taking wickets at important moments and restricted South Africa to 169 runs from their 20 overs.
The chase was a completely different story. Tim Seifert scored 58 from 33 balls before Kagiso Rabada dismissed him, but Finn Allen continued the attack and produced an extraordinary unbeaten 100 from just 33 deliveries. Rachin Ravindra remained unbeaten on 13, allowing New Zealand to reach 173/1 in 12.5 overs and book their place in the T20 World Cup final.
This page provides the New Zealand vs South Africa scorecard, match result, batting and bowling figures, playing XIs, key performances, toss details, match summary, and important statistics from the contest.
New Zealand vs South Africa Match Scorecard
The key details of the NZ vs SA scorecard are:
| Match Information | Details |
| Teams | New Zealand vs South Africa |
| Competition | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Match | 1st Semi-Final |
| Date | March 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Toss | New Zealand won and elected to bowl |
| South Africa | 169/8 in 20 overs |
| New Zealand | 173/1 in 12.5 overs |
| Result | New Zealand won by 9 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Finn Allen |
The New Zealand national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team match scorecard shows a major difference between the two innings. South Africa reached 169/8 at a run rate of 8.45, while New Zealand scored at an extraordinary 13.48 runs per over during the chase.
South Africa Batting Scorecard
South Africa batted first after New Zealand won the toss and decided to field. The Proteas finished their 20 overs on 169/8.
South Africa Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Aiden Markram | 18 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 90.00 |
| Quinton de Kock | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dewald Brevis | 34 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 125.93 |
| David Miller | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Tristan Stubbs | 29 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 120.83 |
| Marco Jansen | 55* | 30 | 2 | 5 | 183.33 |
| Corbin Bosch | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 14 | ||||
| Total | 169/8 | 20 overs | RR 8.45 |
South Africa lost both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock early, leaving the top order under pressure. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis then attempted to rebuild the innings before further wickets slowed the scoring rate.
Marco Jansen provided the biggest late-innings contribution. His unbeaten 55 from 30 balls included two fours and five sixes, giving South Africa a competitive total despite losing eight wickets. Tristan Stubbs also contributed 29 from 24 deliveries.
The South Africa batting scorecard therefore shows that Jansen was the standout performer with the bat, while the middle and lower order supplied the late acceleration needed to take the total close to 170.
New Zealand Bowling Scorecard
New Zealand used six bowlers during the South African innings.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
| Cole McConchie | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.20 |
| James Neesham | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.20 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.20 |
Cole McConchie made an immediate impact by dismissing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton from successive deliveries. Matt Henry also collected two wickets, while Rachin Ravindra finished with two wickets.
Mitchell Santner did not take a wicket but produced the most economical four-over spell among New Zealand’s main bowlers, conceding 25 runs.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
New Zealand’s chase completely changed the nature of the match.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Tim Seifert | 58 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 175.76 |
| Finn Allen | 100* | 33 | 10 | 8 | 303.03 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 13* | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Extras | 2 | ||||
| Total | 173/1 | 12.5 overs | RR 13.48 |
The New Zealand vs South Africa batting scorecard is dominated by Finn Allen’s extraordinary century. Allen scored 100 not out from 33 balls, hitting 10 fours and eight sixes. His strike rate was 303.03.
Tim Seifert also played an important role by scoring 58 from 33 balls. His innings contained seven fours and two sixes and gave New Zealand the perfect start to the chase.
After Seifert was dismissed for 58, Rachin Ravindra joined Allen and helped complete the chase. New Zealand reached 173/1 after 12.5 overs, finishing with seven balls remaining.
South Africa Bowling Scorecard
South Africa’s bowling attack struggled to contain New Zealand’s opening partnership.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Marco Jansen | 2.5 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 18.70 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.30 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Corbin Bosch | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 17.50 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 |
Kagiso Rabada was the only South African bowler to take a wicket. He dismissed Tim Seifert when New Zealand had reached 117.
Marco Jansen, who had been South Africa’s best batter, conceded 53 runs from 2.5 overs during the chase. The high scoring rate meant South Africa struggled to create sustained pressure after the powerplay.
NZ vs SA Match Result
The NZ vs SA match result was a nine-wicket victory for New Zealand.
South Africa scored 169/8 from 20 overs. New Zealand then chased the target by scoring 173/1 from only 12.5 overs.
The victory margin was:
New Zealand won by 9 wickets with 43 balls remaining.
The result sent New Zealand into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final. The ICC reported that the Black Caps had restricted South Africa to 169/8 before reaching 173/1 in 12.5 overs.
The result was particularly impressive because South Africa had been unbeaten heading into the semi-final. New Zealand’s performance therefore represented a major turnaround between the two innings.
NZ vs SA Toss
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first at Eden Gardens.
The decision allowed New Zealand to assess the conditions before beginning their chase. South Africa reached 169/8, which gave New Zealand a target of 170.
The NZ vs SA toss proved significant because New Zealand’s bowlers were able to attack South Africa’s top order early. Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton were both dismissed when the score was only 12, putting immediate pressure on the South African batting lineup.
NZ vs SA Match Summary
The New Zealand vs South Africa match summary begins with New Zealand winning the toss and choosing to field.
South Africa started aggressively but quickly lost Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. Aiden Markram attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Dewald Brevis, but Markram eventually fell for 18.
Brevis scored 34 from 27 balls before being dismissed, while David Miller contributed six. Tristan Stubbs then added 29 from 24 deliveries.
The biggest South African contribution came from Marco Jansen. His unbeaten 55 from 30 balls, including five sixes, helped South Africa reach 169/8 from 20 overs.
New Zealand’s response was dramatically faster.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen attacked from the beginning, taking New Zealand to 84/0 during the mandatory powerplay. Seifert eventually reached 58 before Rabada dismissed him at 117/1.
That dismissal made little difference because Allen continued his assault. He reached an unbeaten 100 from just 33 balls, producing the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history according to the ICC. The previous record had been Chris Gayle’s 47-ball century from 2016.
Rachin Ravindra remained unbeaten on 13, and New Zealand completed the chase at 173/1 in 12.5 overs.
NZ vs SA Key Performers
Finn Allen
Finn Allen was the obvious standout performer.
His unbeaten 100 from 33 balls included:
- 10 fours
- 8 sixes
- Strike rate of 303.03
The innings was not simply a century; it was a record-breaking knockout performance. The ICC reported that Allen’s 33-ball century was the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
Tim Seifert
Tim Seifert scored 58 from 33 deliveries.
His innings contained seven fours and two sixes and gave New Zealand the momentum required to chase a target of 170 comfortably.
Marco Jansen
Marco Jansen was South Africa’s leading run scorer.
He scored an unbeaten 55 from 30 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes. His innings provided South Africa with the late acceleration needed to reach 169/8.
New Zealand Bowling
Matt Henry, Cole McConchie, and Rachin Ravindra each played important roles with the ball.
Henry and Ravindra took two wickets each, while McConchie removed both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in his one over.
NZ vs SA Playing XI
New Zealand Playing XI
The New Zealand XI included:
- Tim Seifert
- Finn Allen
- Rachin Ravindra
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Daryl Mitchell
- James Neesham
- Mitchell Santner
- Cole McConchie
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
Mitchell Santner captained New Zealand, while Tim Seifert was the wicketkeeper.
South Africa Playing XI
South Africa’s XI included:
- Aiden Markram
- Quinton de Kock
- Ryan Rickelton
- Dewald Brevis
- David Miller
- Tristan Stubbs
- Marco Jansen
- Corbin Bosch
- Kagiso Rabada
- Keshav Maharaj
- Lungi Ngidi
Aiden Markram was the South African captain and Quinton de Kock kept wicket.
NZ vs SA Venue and Match Details
The match was played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, one of India’s most famous cricket venues.
The match began at 7:00 PM local time in India, with New Zealand winning the toss and choosing to bowl.
Eden Gardens provided the setting for a high-scoring chase. South Africa’s 169/8 looked competitive, but New Zealand’s powerplay and subsequent batting acceleration made the target appear considerably smaller.
The official New Zealand Cricket website also provides official live scorecards, results and match analysis for Black Caps matches.
For readers looking for an authoritative source, you can link to the official ICC match page for the tournament record and match details.
NZ vs SA Head-to-Head Context
New Zealand and South Africa have a long history across international cricket, including Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Their World Cup meetings have produced several memorable contests. ICC records noted that New Zealand had won six of their first eight Men’s Cricket World Cup meetings with South Africa before the 2023 tournament, while South Africa’s 2023 victory in Pune ended a long World Cup winning streak for New Zealand in this matchup.
The teams have also met in Test cricket. In February 2024, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 281 runs at Mount Maunganui in a World Test Championship match, with Rachin Ravindra scoring a double century and Kane Williamson making a century.
Because the teams meet in different formats, the NZ vs SA head-to-head record should always be separated into Test, ODI and T20I statistics rather than combining every result into one number.
NZ vs SA Previous Matches
Recent meetings between the teams have included major ICC tournaments as well as bilateral series.
In the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, South Africa defeated New Zealand in the group stage before New Zealand reversed the result in the semi-final. ESPN’s scorecard records South Africa’s group-stage victory after chasing New Zealand’s 175/7.
The teams subsequently met in a five-match T20I series in New Zealand later in March 2026. ICC reported that the series was scheduled for March 15–25, following the World Cup, with New Zealand making changes to its squad after reaching the tournament final.
These results show why recent NZ vs SA previous matches can provide useful context, but each result should be labeled by tournament and format.
NZ vs SA Records and Statistics
The semi-final produced several notable statistics.
South Africa Total
South Africa scored:
169/8 in 20 overs
Their run rate was 8.45.
New Zealand Total
New Zealand scored:
173/1 in 12.5 overs
Their run rate was 13.48.
Highest Individual Score
Finn Allen led the match with:
100 from 33 balls*
His innings included 10 fours and eight sixes.
South Africa’s Highest Score
Marco Jansen finished with:
55 from 30 balls*
His innings contained five sixes.
Best Bowling Figures
New Zealand’s Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra both took two wickets, while Cole McConchie also claimed two wickets in his single over.
Biggest Turning Points in the Match
Several moments changed the direction of the contest.
Early South African Wickets
The dismissal of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton from successive deliveries left South Africa 12/2. McConchie’s immediate double strike gave New Zealand early control.
Marco Jansen’s Late Attack
South Africa appeared to be heading toward a lower total, but Jansen’s unbeaten 55 gave the innings a major boost.
New Zealand’s Powerplay
The chase moved quickly from the start. New Zealand scored 84 runs during the mandatory powerplay, creating enormous pressure on South Africa.
Finn Allen’s Century
The biggest turning point was Allen’s extraordinary century. His 33-ball hundred eliminated any realistic possibility of a South African comeback and carried New Zealand into the final.
What the NZ vs SA Scorecard Tells Us
The NZ vs SA scorecard demonstrates how dramatically a T20 match can change between innings.
South Africa produced 169 runs, which would normally represent a competitive total in a knockout match. However, New Zealand’s opening partnership immediately shifted the balance.
The contrast in scoring rates was particularly significant. South Africa scored at 8.45 runs per over, while New Zealand scored at 13.48.
The scorecard also highlights the importance of wickets. South Africa lost eight wickets, while New Zealand lost only one. This allowed New Zealand’s top order to maintain an aggressive approach throughout the chase.
Finn Allen’s individual contribution was the defining factor. His 100 not out from 33 balls accounted for more than half of New Zealand’s final total and came at a strike rate above 300.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the New Zealand vs South Africa match result?
New Zealand defeated South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. South Africa scored 169/8, while New Zealand reached 173/1 in 12.5 overs.
What was the NZ vs SA final score?
South Africa finished on 169/8 from 20 overs. New Zealand replied with 173/1 from 12.5 overs.
Who won the NZ vs SA semi-final?
New Zealand won the semi-final by nine wickets and advanced to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final.
Who was the top scorer in New Zealand vs South Africa?
Finn Allen was the top scorer. He made an unbeaten 100 from 33 balls for New Zealand.
Who scored the most runs for South Africa?
Marco Jansen was South Africa’s highest scorer with an unbeaten 55 from 30 balls.
Who was the best bowler in the NZ vs SA match?
Matt Henry, Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra each took two wickets for New Zealand. Their combined efforts helped restrict South Africa to 169/8.
Where was the New Zealand vs South Africa match played?
The match was played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India.
Who won the toss in NZ vs SA?
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.
What was Finn Allen’s score?
Finn Allen scored 100 not out from 33 balls, hitting 10 fours and eight sixes.
How many overs did New Zealand take to chase the target?
New Zealand reached 173/1 after 12.5 overs, completing the chase with 43 deliveries remaining.
What was New Zealand’s run rate?
New Zealand scored at a run rate of 13.48 during their chase.
What was South Africa’s run rate?
South Africa finished their 20 overs at a run rate of 8.45.
New Zealand vs South Africa Scorecard: Final Summary
The New Zealand national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team match scorecard from the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final records a commanding New Zealand victory.
South Africa posted 169/8, with Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 55 providing the innings’ biggest contribution. New Zealand’s bowlers, led by two wickets each from Matt Henry, Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra, kept South Africa from reaching a larger total.
The chase was then dominated by Finn Allen and Tim Seifert. Seifert scored 58 before being dismissed, while Allen remained unbeaten on 100 from only 33 balls. New Zealand reached 173/1 in 12.5 overs to win by nine wickets.
For anyone checking the NZ vs SA scorecard, the defining statistic is the contrast between the two innings: South Africa scored 169/8 at 8.45 runs per over, while New Zealand raced to 173/1 at 13.48 runs per over.