Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Thursday, 5 March 2026 02:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
KOLKATA: New Zealand booked their ticket to the final of the Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding nine-wicket win against South Africa in the first semi-final played at Eden Gardens yesterday.
It was New Zealand’s first win in T20 World Cups against South Africa, having lost the previous five.
New Zealand made an absolute mockery of the target of 170 with opener Finn Allen playing a beast of a knock on the big stage. His 100 off just 33 balls (10 fours, 8 sixes) was the fastest in Men’s T20 World Cup history. South Africa looked clueless right through the 12.5 overs it took for New Zealand to get to the target, winning with 43 balls to spare.
South Africa kept going with pace and more pace in the powerplay, and the ball kept disappearing as Tim Seifert (58 off 33 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Player of the Match Allen went about breaking the back of the chase with a whirlwind opening stand of 117 off 55 balls. It was an excellent toss to win for New Zealand and they dominated the game to such an extent, that apart from a couple of overs at the death in the first innings, everything they touched turned to gold.
For Allen, it was his third T20I century as he powered New Zealand into their second T20 World Cup final, where they will meet the winner of the second semi-final between India and England on Sunday.
South Africa were at least 20 runs short and their score of 169-8 seemed under par with the dew starting to set in. A 170 seemed pretty chaseable and so it proved. South Africa had batters in fine striking form and New Zealand played some smart cricket to remove the two left-handed top order batters by the second over to McConchie, to the only over he bowled in the entire game.
Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis began rebuilding but Rachin Ravindra came on and troubled both batters. Markram tried to take him on and holed out and David Miller, despite being a left-hander, struggled as he kept playing for the turn and the ball kept hitting the outside part of his bat. Brevis chipped one straight to hand and just as New Zealand were bossing the show, Marco Jansen led a fight back. With Tristen Stubbs keeping him company, they added 73 off 47 balls, but Matt Henry closed out the innings well, finishing with 2/34. If not for Jansen’s knock of 55* off 30 balls (2 fours, 5 sixes), a score of 160 looked tough for South Africa. He dragged South Africa to 169 after a stunning collapse saw them down at 77-5. – [ST]
Scores:
South Africa 169-8 (20) (Dewald Brevis 34, Tristan Stubbs 29, Marco Jansen 55*, Matt Henry 2/34, Cole McConchie 2/9, Rachin Ravindra 2/29)
New Zealand 173-1 (12.5) (Tim Seifert 58, Finn Allen 100*)
