The South Africa national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard from the T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final tells the story of an incredible night at Eden Gardens. New Zealand secured a dominant 9-wicket victory to advance to the final, powered by a historic performance from Finn Allen.
Finding a detailed South Africa vs New Zealand scorecard 2026 is essential for fans who want to understand how the Proteas’ World Cup dream ended. In this guide, we break down every run, wicket, and tactical shift that defined this high-stakes encounter.
Match Overview (Quick Summary)
If you are looking for a quick result, here is the summary of the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
- Match Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets.
- Winner: New Zealand (Qualified for the Final).
- Margin: 9 wickets with 43 balls to spare.
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.
- Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
- Player of the Match: Finn Allen (100* off 33 balls).
The RSA vs NZ match scorecard T20 World Cup shows that South Africa posted 169/8 in their 20 overs, which was chased down by New Zealand in just 12.5 overs.
Full South Africa National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
The following tables provide the detailed NZ vs RSA full scorecard, covering both innings of the semi-final.
South Africa Batting Scorecard (1st Innings)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | c Phillips b McConchie | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Aiden Markram (c) | c Mitchell b Ravindra | 24 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Ryan Rickelton | b McConchie | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dewald Brevis | c Santner b Neesham | 34 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 130.77 |
| David Miller | c Phillips b Ravindra | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Tristan Stubbs | b Henry | 29 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 120.83 |
| Marco Jansen | Not Out | 55 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 183.33 |
| Corbin Bosch | c Seifert b Henry | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Kagiso Rabada | b Henry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 8 Wickets (20 Overs) | 169 | 8.45 RPO |
New Zealand Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 8.00 |
| Cole McConchie | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2.25 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 |
| Jimmy Neesham | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
New Zealand Batting Scorecard (2nd Innings)
The South Africa national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard took a dramatic turn during the chase as the Kiwi openers unleashed a record-breaking assault.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Tim Seifert (wk) | b Rabada | 58 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 175.76 |
| Finn Allen | Not Out | 100 | 33 | 10 | 8 | 303.03 |
| Rachin Ravindra | Not Out | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Total | 1 Wicket (12.5 Overs) | 173 | 13.48 RPO |
South Africa Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Marco Jansen | 2.5 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 18.70 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Corbin Bosch | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 17.50 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 |
Fall of Wickets
The South Africa vs New Zealand match result was largely dictated by the regular loss of wickets for the Proteas and the sheer lack of breakthroughs for their bowlers.
South Africa Fall of Wickets:
- 1-12 (Quinton de Kock, 1.5 ov)
- 2-12 (Ryan Rickelton, 1.6 ov)
- 3-55 (Aiden Markram, 7.4 ov)
- 4-72 (David Miller, 9.5 ov)
- 5-77 (Dewald Brevis, 10.3 ov)
- 6-150 (Tristan Stubbs, 18.2 ov)
- 7-168 (Corbin Bosch, 19.4 ov)
- 8-169 (Kagiso Rabada, 19.6 ov)
New Zealand Fall of Wickets:
- 1-117 (Tim Seifert, 9.1 ov)
Match Summary
The South Africa national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard reflects a game of two halves. After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner elected to bowl first, a decision that paid immediate dividends.
The Powerplay: South Africa’s Early Disaster
The Proteas got off to a nightmare start. In the second over, Cole McConchie struck twice in two balls, removing both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. South Africa was reeling at 12/2. Captain Aiden Markram and “Baby AB” Dewald Brevis attempted a rescue mission, guiding the team to 48/2 by the end of the Powerplay.
Middle Overs: Spin Chokes the Proteas
Just as a partnership was building, Rachin Ravindra removed Markram for 24. Soon after, David Miller fell cheaply, and Jimmy Neesham dismissed Brevis for 34. At 77/5 in the 11th over, the South Africa vs New Zealand 2026 semi final full scorecard with stats looked bleak for the Rainbow Nation.
The Recovery: Jansen and Stubbs Fight Back
Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen staged a heroic recovery. They shared a 73-run partnership, a record for the 6th wicket for South Africa in T20Is. Jansen was particularly aggressive, smashing five sixes in his unbeaten 55. Their late-order surge helped South Africa reach 169/8, a total that many thought was competitive on the Eden Gardens surface.
The Chase: Finn Allen’s Historic Onslaught
What followed in the second innings was pure carnage. New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen didn’t just chase the target; they demolished it. They scored 84 runs in the Powerplay alone. Allen reached his fifty in just 19 balls, and he didn’t stop there.
Even after Rabada dismissed Seifert for 58, Allen continued his rampage. He reached his century in just 33 balls, the fastest ever in T20 World Cup history. The who won South Africa vs New Zealand match 2026 question was answered in record time as the Kiwis finished the game in 12.5 overs.
Key Turning Points of the Match
- McConchie’s Double Strike: Dismissing De Kock and Rickelton in consecutive balls destroyed South Africa’s early momentum.
- The Powerplay Blitz: New Zealand scoring 84/0 in the first 6 overs effectively ended the contest before it really began.
- Finn Allen’s 12th Over: Allen took 24 runs off the 13th over (bowled by Jansen) to finish the game with a flurry of boundaries.
- Fastest Century Record: Allen reaching 100 in 33 balls was the psychological blow that the Proteas could not recover from.
Top Performers
| Category | Player | Performance |
| Best Batsman | Finn Allen (NZ) | 100* (33 balls) |
| Best Bowler | Cole McConchie (NZ) | 2/9 (4 overs) |
| MVP | Finn Allen (NZ) | Fastest T20 WC Century |
| Top Protea | Marco Jansen (SA) | 55* (30) & 4/40 in previous game |
Head-to-Head Record (Before This Match)
Prior to this South Africa vs new zealand semi final scorecard, the Proteas actually had a superior record in T20 World Cups.
| Format | Played | South Africa Wins | New Zealand Wins | No Result |
| T20 World Cups | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall T20Is | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
Note: New Zealand’s win in the 2026 Semi-Final was their first-ever victory over South Africa in a T20 World Cup.
Pitch Report & Match Conditions
The Eden Gardens pitch for the semi-final was slightly dry, which usually favors spinners. This was evident during the first innings when McConchie and Ravindra controlled the run rate. However, once the sun went down, the dew factor came into play. The ball started coming onto the bat much better, which Finn Allen exploited to perfection.
The T20 World Cup 2026 RSA vs NZ full match summary highlights that South Africa failed to adapt to the changing conditions, while the New Zealand batters played with a “nothing to lose” attitude that caught the bowlers off guard.
Why This Match Was Important
- Breaking the Jinx: New Zealand had never beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup before this match.
- Fastest Century: Finn Allen set a new global standard for power-hitting in tournament cricket.
- The Wait Continues: For South Africa, the “chokers” tag remains as they once again fell at the semi-final hurdle after a dominant group stage.
Final Result
The South Africa national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard confirms a historic result: New Zealand defeated South Africa by 9 wickets. The Black Caps advanced to the 2026 T20 World Cup Final in Ahmedabad, while South Africa was left to reflect on another missed opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
Who won South Africa vs New Zealand 2026 semi-final?
New Zealand won the match by 9 wickets to qualify for the final.
What was the full scorecard of the RSA vs NZ match?
South Africa scored 169/8 (20 overs). New Zealand scored 173/1 (12.5 overs).
Who scored the most runs in the South Africa vs New Zealand match?
Finn Allen was the top scorer with an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls.
Who took the most wickets in the RSA vs NZ match?
Matt Henry was the most successful bowler, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs.
Where was the RSA vs NZ semi-final played?
The match was played at the legendary Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata, India.
What is the fastest century in T20 World Cup history?
Finn Allen holds the record, reaching his hundred in just 33 balls against South Africa in 2026.
