South Africa vs New Zealand Highlights, Semi-Final, T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand decimated the South Africans courtesy of a great knock from Finn Allen as he smashed a 33-ball hundred to take his team to 9-wicket win in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. [Check Full Scorecard Here].
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026
South Africa
169/8 (20.0)
New Zealand
173/1 (12.5)
Match Ended ( Day – 1st Semi-Final )
New Zealand beat South Africa by 9 wickets
SA vs NZ 1st Semi-Final, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Highlights
The South African team, after being asked to bat first have posted 169/8. New Zealand started with Matt Henry as the opening bowler. Cole McConchie took the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton on back-to-back balls. Aiden Markram, who was dropped by Rachin Ravindra, lost his wicket to the same player as Daryl Mitchell caught the ball. David Miller was also dropped, by Glenn Phillips off the bowling of Ravindra.
But in the very same over he was caught. Neesham got Dewald Brevis. Tristan Stubbs was removed by Lockie Ferguson. Marco Jansen scored a brilliant fifty as he had the biggest sixth-wicket stand for South Africa with Stubbs. Two wickets in the last over and just six runs off it from Henry meant that the Proteas finished at 169/8.
South Africa vs New Zealand Squads and Probable XIs
South Africa Playing XI: South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
South Africa vs New Zealand Semi-Final HIGHLIGHTS, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Get all the updates from the today's SA vs NZ SF from Eden Gardens, Kolkata
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: What did Player of the Match Finn Allen say?
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
Thank you for tuning into this game's live blog as New Zealand defeated South Africa to reach the final of the T20 World Cup 2026.
It was great bringing you all the updates from the game. Do join us for the second semi-final between India and England tomorrow.
Here's something for you to enjoy after this game.
High-flyer Finn Allen with another monstrous six as New Zealand charge towards the final 😍
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
#t20worldcup broadcast details 👉 https://t.co/NPykWM7qqY pic.twitter.com/xLf3cYdFQ6
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: What did Player of the Match Finn Allen say?
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
Speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, Finn Allen said, "Just tried to get in good positions and perform for the team. [The plan for the opening partnership] We wanted to start well and put them on the back foot early. Easy for me when Timmy is going like that. I can just watch and get him on strike. He batted on a flyer. Huge game for us. Timmy and I just kept ensuring we're looking straight and going hard."
"[On adapting to different pitches and being aggressive] You adapt to the wicket. Training is really important to get a feel of the wicket. We knew it would be black soil, we had that intel. Shows how important that series was before the World Cup. [On getting to the final] You take the positives from the game and celebrate a little but you have a final to look forward to on Sunday," he added.
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
Winning captain Mitchell Santner, speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony said, "I guess every time you show up and lose a game you're learning from it. I guess today was just about trying to keep pressure on throughout, and when you take wickets consistently it's a challenge to keep going with the bat. [On using McConchie in the powerplay] There was a plan for the first two overs and then a free-for-all. Then with Brevis coming in, we knew he likes spin but we thought it would be better spinning it away from him."
"[Tim and Finn] It was special, it was nice to watch, not going to lie. We were very happy with 170 going into the break but in T20, you never know. Wickets on the powerplay would have made it a challenge. But they took it on. And Finny just carried on. And 33-ball 100 is not bad. [The perfect game and repeating it] It would be nice if we could. Of course it's a different ground and red soil, black soil, lot of variables. Pretty good performance. I don't know if it was a perfect game, but earlier we have been good in periods, today we were good all the way through," he added.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: What did the losing captain Aiden Markram say?
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
Losing captain Aiden Markram, speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony said, "I think you look at the conditions and they bowled really well up front. Credit to their bowling unit. And obviously when someone plays an innings like that, you don't often come out on the right side of that. To get to 170 was a great effort to be fair. As it goes in T20 cricket, they got off to a flyer in the powerplay. Massive credit to Finn Allen's knock and Seifert's knock to kill the game off as early as they did."
"I think we expected the wicket to play really well, looked really good to the eye. Maybe we had to try and scrape our way to 190 and we'd be in the game. Obviously disappointed in the result but really proud of these guys. Played so well in this tournament. I think we'll let the emotions settle first and foremost and then have a discussion as a group. You get back on the horse and come back. Hugely disappointed. We'll have to come out stronger and be better as a team," he added.
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 173-1 after 12.5 overs
Kiwi openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen added 117 in the first 9 overs before Kagiso Rabada removed Siefert. Rachin Ravindra joined Allen, who had hit a fifty in just 19 balls. But then he decided to up his game and hit a century in only 33 balls to create a record and also send his team into the final, where they will now await the winners of the second semi-final between England and India.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Allen's historic ton takes Kiwis to final
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 173-1 after 13 overs
That's it then. The victory is here and so is the century for Finn Allen in just 33 balls. It is the fastest century in T20 World Cup history and it is Allen who has done the trick, hitting a four off the last ball.
24 runs from the 13th over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Kiwis one away from win
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 149-1 after 12 overs
There is no escape at all here. Wherever the Proteas bowlers are bowling, Allen is just able to get the boundary.
SIX!! THAT IS HUGE from Allen as he is not at all interested in taking it easy.
7 more needed with three balls to come.
Just one more needed now and he needs a four to get a hundred.
Can he do that?
Two balls to go in the 13th over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Maharaj hit for 12
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 149-1 after 12 overs
Keshav Maharaj is here and he has been hit for 12 runs as the Kiwis try their best to win the game as quickly as possible.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Allen vinces
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 137-1 after 11 overs
SIX!! Strange, Allen hits a six and then grimaces in pain. Physio is out as the Kiwis take 13 off the Bosch over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Rabada gets Siefert
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 124-1 after 10 overs
Wicket!! Kagiso Rabada gets the big wicket of Tim Siefert as he has clean bowled him.
Seven and a wicket from the Rabada over.
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 117-0 after 09 overs
A four of the first ball and a six in the same over means Finn Allen has hit a 19-ball fifty and he is still going on.
14 off the Maharaj over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Fifty for Siefert
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 103-0 after 08 overs
That would be fifty up for Tim Siefert and 100 up for the Kiwis as they are just not stopping here.
12 runs come off the over off Ngidi.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Maharaj introduced
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 91-0 after 07 overs
Keshav Maharaj is doing great here as he has gone for only seven runs in the seventh over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Most runs in a powerplay in knockouts
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 84-0 after 06 overs
Six!! Nice way to start the final over of powerplay here
Oh my god, no matter where Corbin Bosch is bowling, this guy Finn Allen has decided that he is going to get a boundary and he will get one.
A six and four fours off the final powerplay over makes it the most runs in a knockout T20 World Cup game.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: 50 up for Kiwis
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 62-0 after 05 overs
If the Ngidi over was a mellow one, New Zealand players have decided to up the ante and gone all guns blazing against South Africa's best asset, Kagiso Rabada, hitting him for 14 runs.
50 is up for the Kiwis here.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Allen goes big against Ngidi
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 48-0 after 04 overs
Lungi Ngidi, the best Proteas bowler comes into the attack but he has been dealt with greatly by Finn Allen as he hit home for a six.
Total 11 runs from the over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Jansen hit for 18 runs
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 37-0 after 03 overs
SIX!!That has been smoked down the ground first up in the third over.
DRS!! The Proteas opt for a DRS and lose a review as the ball never touched the bat, it was touching the batter's trousers.
SIX!! Scooped for a six this one.
Four!! Hit down the ground.
That would be 18 runs from the over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: de Kock unable to reach
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 19-0 after 02 overs
In the air!! And the ball falls short of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as he fails to reach there.
8 runs from the over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Good start from NZ
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
New Zealand Live Score 11-0 after 01 over
That is one hell of an over to start the proceedings for the New Zealand side here as they get 11 off it even as there were two clear edges there.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: SA innings summary
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 169-8 after 20 overs
The South African team, after being asked to bat first have posted 169/8. New Zealand started with Matt Henry as the opening bowler. Cole McConchie took the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton on back-to-back balls. Aiden Markram, who was dropped by Rachin Ravindra, lost his wicket to the same player as Daryl Mitchell caught the ball. David Miller was also dropped, by Glenn Phillips off the bowling of Ravindra. But in the very same over he was caught. Neesham got Dewald Brevis. Tristan Stubbs was removed by Lockie Ferguson. Marco Jansen scored a brilliant fifty as he had the biggest sixth-wicket stand for South Africa with Stubbs. Two wickets in the last over and just six runs off it from Henry meant that the Proteas finished at 169/8.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Kiwis need 170 to win
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 169-8 after 20 overs
That is one of the great last overs here from Henry as he gives away only six runs and takes two wickets to keep the Proteas under 170.
Kiwis will need 170 to win and make their second T20 World Cup final.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Henry has Bosch
Caught!! Make that two wickets in two balls as Kagiso Rabada has been caught in the deep by Jimmy Neesham.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Henry has Bosch
Wicket!! Matt Henry has bowled Corbin Bosch here and more importantly kept Marco Jansen away from the crease.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Fifty for Jansen
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 163-6 after 19 overs
Six!! In the slot and hot over the deep mid-wicket for a six
Six!! Repeat of the first shot and that would six more and the fifty for Marco Jansen.
13 off the over with a wicket.
Wicket!! That would be the end of Tristan Stubbs as he has been cleaned up first ball of the 19th by Marco Jansen.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: 150 up for Proteas
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 150-5 after 18 overs
Four!! Hit down the ground is Jimmy Neesham
SIX!! In the range and hit down the ground for a six by Stubbs.
Four!! Too wayward and Neesham has conceded four here as well.
16 off the over already.
SIX!! All of a sudden, the game has changed as Neesham has now been hit fir a six here.
22 off the over and 150 is up for the Proteas.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: 50 p'ship between Jansen and Stubbs
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 128-5 after 17 overs
The 50-run partnership has come up between Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs here as they collect 15 from the Lockie Ferguson over, which completes 17.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: 5 from Santner over
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 113-5 after 16 overs
The Kiwis are keeping it all tight here as even the 16th over comes to an end and they have given themselves a lot of time to try and close this out and restrict the Proteas to less than 170.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: Ferguson keeps it tight
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 108-5 after 15 overs
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack and he has gone for two singles off the first two ball.
Great bouncer from Ferguson to end the over as he gets away with the no-ball in the over. Although even after the no-ball, only 7 runs come from the over.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, T20 World Cup: 100 up for Proteas
SA vs NZ LIVE SCORE
South Africa Live Score 101-5 after 14 overs
SIX!! Flighted from Ravindra and it has been hammered down the ground for a six by Jansen
Four more runs mean 10 off the last Ravindra over and he would finish with figures of 2/28 today.
100 is up for the Proteas, their slowest ever in this edition of the T20 World Cup.