New Zealand send favourites South Africa crashing out of 2026 ICC T20 World Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Proteas suffer another defeat in World Cup knockouts
South Africa were the standout team during the group stage and Super 8 of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, as they reached the final four as the only team with a 100% record, winning all seven of their matches in the competition.
However, the Proteas have developed a reputation over the years of choking at vital moments, and that seemed to be the case at the iconic Eden Gardens this afternoon, when their top order crumbled, leaving the team on 77/5 in the 11th over after being asked to bat.
None of Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickleton or David Miller managed to score above 20 runs with the bat, though Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen produced a vital partnership to get the side to a respectable 169/8 by the end of their 20 overs.
Jansen was the standout performer for the Proteas, smashing 55 runs in 30 deliveries, but the Kiwis kept things tight at the death, and by the end of the innings, it was clear that the tournament favourites needed a massive performance with the ball to keep their title hopes alive - unfortunately, it was not to be.
Rachin Ravindra was the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps, taking 2/29 in his four overs, while Matt Henry and Cole McConchie also bagged a couple of scalps each. Lockie Ferguson was immense in the latter overs and finished with a tidy 1/29 in his four-over allotment.
Finn Allen, Tim Seifert lead Black Caps to commanding victory
New Zealand made their intentions clear right from the off in their chase, with openers Tim Seifert, who has been the team’s best player in this tournament, and Finn Allen, taking the attack to the South African opening bowlers in the powerplay.
The opening pair brought up the 100 for their team in the eighth over. Seifert blasted 58 off 33 balls before he was bowled by Kagiso Rabada, but Allen stepped up in some style, producing an array of power hitting all around the ground that took the match away from the Proteas.
Allen went on to finish the match on 100* off just 33 deliveries, including ten 4s and eight 6s, to record the fastest ever T20 World Cup century. Ravidra played the support role, scoring 13 runs off 11 balls, as the Kiwis successfully got to the target with 7.1 overs to spare.
The victory not only got New Zealand into their second T20 World Cup final but also sent a clear message to India and England that, despite being the outsiders from the final four teams, they are one of the most dangerous around when it comes to one-off knockout games.
The Men in Blue and the Poms will face off in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday afternoon. The winners will meet New Zealand in the grand final of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.
