NZ vs SA Match Scorecard: T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final

When Finn Allen smashed his way to the fastest T20 World Cup century on record, the Eden Gardens crowd fell silent in disbelief. The New Zealand opener needed just 33 balls to reach three figures, powering his side to a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. For cricket fans tracking live scores, the question wasn’t whether New Zealand would advance—it was how decisively they would do it.

Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets ·
South Africa: 169/8 ·
New Zealand: 173/1 (12.5 overs) ·
Player of the Match: Finn Allen 100(33) ·
Venue: Kolkata

The key match statistics from Eden Gardens reveal New Zealand’s complete dominance in this semi-final encounter.

NZ vs SA Live Score

New Zealand’s chase at Eden Gardens turned into a masterclass in aggressive batting, with the target of 174 proving no obstacle whatsoever. The live score updated rapidly as Finn Allen and Tim Seifert dismantled South Africa’s bowling attack with remarkable ease.

South Africa Innings

The South African innings stumbled early, losing two wickets inside the first two overs. Aiden Markram managed only 16 runs before being dismissed, while Reeza Hendricks fell for a duck. The Proteas recovered somewhat through Marco Jansen’s aggressive 55 off 30 balls, and Dewald Brevis contributed 34 off 27 balls, but the middle-order collapse proved costly.

South Africa’s fall of wickets read: 12-1 (1.4 overs), 12-2 (1.5 overs), 55-3 (7.4 overs), 77-4 (9.6 overs), 77-5 (10.2 overs), 150-6 (18.1 overs), 166-7 (19.3 overs), 166-8 (19.4 overs) Sky Sports Scorecard.

New Zealand Innings

The New Zealand reply started explosively, reaching 50 runs in just 4.1 overs. The powerplay yielded an astonishing 84 runs without losing a wicket Cricket World Scorecard. Finn Allen raced to his half-century off just 19 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.

Tim Seifert provided solid support with 58 off 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. The Allen-Seifert partnership reached 50 in 25 balls and 100 in 47 balls, effectively sealing the result before the partnership was broken at 117-1 in the 9.1 over when Seifert was dismissed Sky Sports Scorecard.

Fall of Wickets

The sole New Zealand wicket fell at 117-1 when Tim Seifert was dismissed in the 9.1 over. After that, Rachin Ravindra joined Finn Allen and the pair added 56 more runs, reaching their 50-run stand in just 21 balls.

New Zealand vs South Africa Today Match

The match played on 4 March 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, was the 3,751st T20 International in cricket history ESPN Cricinfo. New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that proved decisive as they restricted South Africa to a below-par total.

Match Result

New Zealand won by 9 wickets with 43 balls remaining, advancing to the T20 World Cup 2026 final. The victory margin reflects the dominance of the New Zealand chase, which never looked in trouble from the moment Allen started scoring freely.

Key Performances

Finn Allen’s unbeaten 100 off 33 balls included 10 fours and 8 sixes, setting a new record for the fastest T20 World Cup century. Tim Seifert’s supporting 58 provided the perfect platform for Allen to accelerate. For South Africa, Marco Jansen’s 55 off 30 balls was their sole significant contribution with the bat.

With the ball, Rachin Ravindra took 2/29 in 4 overs and Cole McConchie claimed 2/9 in just 1 over for New Zealand. The South African bowlers struggled, with Lungi Ngidi conceding 22 runs without a wicket in 2 overs and Kagiso Rabada managing 1/28 in 3 overs ESPN Cricinfo.

Powerplay Details

South Africa’s powerplay produced 48 runs for the loss of two wickets, including the early dismissals of Hendricks and Markram. New Zealand’s response was clinical—84 runs without loss in their powerplay set the tone for the entire chase Cricket World.

SA vs NZ Semi Final Scorecard

The complete scorecard for this semi-final reveals New Zealand’s complete dominance across both innings. South Africa’s inability to build partnerships after their early wickets proved fatal against a clinical batting display.

Full Scorecard

The official scorecard records South Africa at 169/8 in their 20 overs, with New Zealand responding at 173/1 in just 12.5 overs. Match umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf officiated on-field duties, with Nitin Menon serving as TV umpire Sky Sports Scorecard.

Batting Scores

For South Africa, Marco Jansen top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, followed by Dewald Brevis with 34 off 27. Aiden Markram managed 16, while the remaining batsmen failed to convert starts into meaningful scores. For New Zealand, Finn Allen’s 100 not out dominated the scoring, supported by Tim Seifert’s 58 ESPN Cricinfo.

Bowling Figures

New Zealand’s bowlers worked in partnerships to dismantle the South African lineup. Rachin Ravindra’s 2/29 in 4 overs kept the middle-order in check, while Cole McConchie’s economical 2/9 in a single over provided crucial breakthroughs. For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj went for 33 runs without a wicket in 3 overs and Corbin Bosch conceded 35 runs without a wicket in 2 overs ESPN Cricinfo.

New Zealand vs South Africa T20 Series

This semi-final encounter marked the latest chapter in a competitive rivalry between the two nations in ICC T20 competitions. The result continues New Zealand’s strong form in knockout matches at major tournaments.

Series Overview

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has seen New Zealand build momentum through the group stage and into the semi-finals. South Africa entered the match as a formidable opponent but found themselves outclassed by New Zealand’s clinical approach.

Previous Encounters

The two teams have met in several ICC tournaments, with New Zealand often emerging victorious in high-pressure knockout scenarios. Their ability to perform under pressure at global events has become a defining characteristic of this New Zealand side.

NZ vs SA T20 World Cup 2026

The tournament continued at Eden Gardens with this high-stakes semi-final, with both teams knowing that defeat would end their title hopes. New Zealand seized the initiative early and never relinquished control.

Semi-Final Highlights

The match started at 19:00 local time with three sessions—19:00-20:30, interval 20:30-20:50, and 20:50-22:20 ESPN Cricinfo. Finn Allen’s record-breaking century dominated the post-match discussions, with commentators highlighting his technical precision and shot selection.

“Flying Finn launches NZ into the final with record ton,” wrote commentator Abhimanyu Bose for ESPN Cricinfo. “Finn Allen hit the fastest T20 World Cup century to make it a cakewalk for New Zealand” ESPN Cricinfo Match Coverage.

Next Matches

New Zealand advances to face their final opponent, with the second semi-final determining who joins them in the championship match. The ICC Official tournament records confirm the bracket positioning ICC Official Tournament Records.

The match timeline showed New Zealand taking control from the outset—toss won, fielding first, then dismantling the South African innings before their own batting lineup posted an unassailable target in barely 13 overs.

Key milestones during the chase included New Zealand reaching 100 runs in 7.5 overs and 150 runs in 12.1 overs Cricket World Scorecard. Each landmark arrived well ahead of the required run rate.

Flying Finn launches NZ into the final with record ton.

— Abhimanyu Bose, Commentator (ESPN Cricinfo)

Finn Allen hit the fastest T20 World Cup century to make it a cakewalk for New Zealand.

— Match Report, ESPN Cricinfo Coverage

For South Africa, the tournament ended in familiar heartbreak—a semi-final exit that will prompt soul-searching about their ability to perform in high-pressure matches. The bowling attack, despite having quality performers like Rabada and Ngidi, had no answer to Allen’s relentless assault.

Related reading: Ind W vs SA W 3rd ODI scorecard

Finn Allen’s explosive 100 off 33 balls powered New Zealand’s 9-wicket chase of South Africa’s 169/8, as the SA vs NZ scorecard fully documents.

Frequently asked questions

For South African cricket fans, the verdict is stark: another semi-final exit at a global tournament leaves questions about tournament pedigree unanswered. For New Zealand supporters, Allen’s explosive century signals a side capable of claiming the ultimate prize in Kolkata.