South Africa face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 4, 2026. The winner earns a place in the final in Ahmedabad on March 8, where either India or England awaits.
South Africa vs New Zealand 1st Semi-Finals Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup Semi-Final 1 |
| Date | 4 March 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM GMT / 3:30 PM SAST |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025/26 |
| Last Match | South Africa won by 7 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) 14-Feb-2026 |
Dream11 Team For South Africa vs New Zealand
Weather Report
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 29°C at the start; drops to around 23°C by the end of the match |
| Sky | Clear skies throughout the evening; no cloud cover expected |
| Rain Chance | 0% chance of rain; a full 20-over contest is expected |
| Humidity | Humidity rises from around 50% at the toss to nearly 80% by the second innings; heavy dew is likely |
| Overall | Perfect conditions for cricket; dew will be the key factor, heavily favouring the chasing side |
Pitch Report
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India |
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly; dry black cotton soil surface; good pace and bounce with a quick outfield |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 175-190 in T20Is at this venue |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers are more effective overall (44 wickets vs 31 for spinners in recent WC games here); spinners pick up some turn as the match progresses |
| Toss Factor | Dew in the evening makes chasing easier; the toss winner is likely to bowl first under lights |
| Boundary Size | Shorter square boundaries encourage aggressive stroke play; straight boundaries are longer |
Injury Updates
South Africa: South Africa carries no injury worries into this semi-final.
New Zealand: New Zealand is concerned about Matt Henry, who flew home after the Super 8s match against England to be with his wife for the birth of his second child. He was due to land back in Kolkata on the night of March 3, just hours before the match. Santner confirmed that Henry will undergo a fitness check on the morning of the game. If he is ruled out, Jacob Duffy is the likely replacement in the playing XI.
Suggested Reads:
Last Five Matches for South Africa vs New Zealand
- South Africa won by 7 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) 14-Feb-2026
- New Zealand won by 3 runs, 26-Jul-2025
- New Zealand won by 7 wickets (with 25 balls remaining) 22-Jul-2025
- New Zealand won by 21 runs, 16-Jul-2025
- South Africa won by 78 runs, 17-Feb-2017
