New Zealand crushed South Africa in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match took place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on March 4, 2026. New Zealand chased down a target of 170 in just 12.5 overs and won by 9 wickets with 43 balls to spare.
Finn Allen played an extraordinary knock and scored a century off just 33 balls. He finished unbeaten on 100 and hit 10 fours and 8 sixes. Tim Seifert also contributed a blazing 58 off 33 balls at the top. The New Zealand openers put on 117 runs before Seifert fell in the 9th over. Allen then finished the job alongside Rachin Ravindra.
For South Africa, Marco Jansen smashed 55 off 30 balls in the lower order. His knock gave the total some respectability. But the total of 169 was never going to be enough against New Zealand’s batting firepower on this surface.
Match Summary: NZ vs SA Semi Final 1
Here is the complete match summary of this T20 World Cup semi-final:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| South Africa Score | 169/8 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand Score | 173/1 (12.5 overs) |
| Match Result | New Zealand won by 9 wickets (43 balls remaining) |
| Best Batting (NZ) | Finn Allen – 100* off 33 balls (10 fours, 8 sixes) |
| Best Batting (SA) | Marco Jansen – 55* off 30 balls (2 fours, 5 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (NZ) | Cole McConchie – 2/9 in 1 over (Econ: 9.00) |
| Best Bowling (SA) | Kagiso Rabada – 1/28 in 3 overs (Econ: 9.33) |
| Player of the Match | Finn Allen (NZ) |
South Africa Innings: 169/8 in 20 Overs
South Africa lost two quick wickets inside the powerplay. Ryan Rickelton departed for a duck off the very first ball he faced. Quinton de Kock managed 10 off 8 balls before Cole McConchie dismissed him. South Africa ended the powerplay at 48/2 with Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis at the crease.
Markram scored 18 off 20 balls but fell in the 7th over. Brevis top-scored among the specialist batters with 34 off 27 balls before Neesham removed him. David Miller could only manage 6 before Ravindra dismissed him. Tristan Stubbs contributed 29 off 24 balls to keep the innings moving.
The innings looked in trouble at 101/5 in the 14th over. Marco Jansen changed that. He attacked from ball one after coming in and put on a 50-run partnership with Stubbs in just 40 balls. South Africa crossed 150 in 17.6 overs. Jansen reached his fifty off just 27 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes. He finished unbeaten on 55 off 30 balls.
Matt Henry took 2 wickets for New Zealand while McConchie, Rachin Ravindra, and Lockie Ferguson each picked up 2, 2, and 1 wickets respectively. South Africa posted 169/8 from their 20 overs at a run rate of 8.45.
New Zealand Chase: 173/1 in 12.5 Overs
New Zealand’s chase started at full throttle. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen attacked the South African bowling from the first over. New Zealand reached 50 in just 4.1 overs. The powerplay ended with New Zealand at 84/0 without losing a single wicket.
Seifert reached his fifty off 28 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Allen was equally destructive at the other end. New Zealand crossed 100 in the 7th over. The opening stand reached 117 before Kagiso Rabada dismissed Seifert for 58 off 33 balls in the 9th over.
Allen then moved into a different gear. He reached his fifty off just 19 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. New Zealand crossed 150 in 12.1 overs. Allen brought up his century off 33 balls in spectacular fashion with 10 fours and 8 sixes. He finished unbeaten on 100 with a strike rate of 303.03.
Rachin Ravindra came in and stayed calm with 13 off 11 balls. New Zealand crossed the target in the 13th over and won by 9 wickets. Marco Jansen was the most expensive South African bowler with 0/53 off just 2.5 overs. South Africa’s bowlers had no answers on the night.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Finn Allen’s Century
Finn Allen put on one of the finest T20 World Cup semi-final performances ever seen. Here are the key numbers from his innings:
Runs scored: 100* (not out)
Balls faced: 33
Strike rate: 303.03
Boundaries: 10 fours and 8 sixes
Allen destroyed every South African bowler who came at him. He earned both the Player of the Match award and the Cricinfo MVP title with 116.35 impact points. His knock made the result look one-sided from the first over of the chase.
New Zealand Enters the Final
New Zealand advances to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Their victory at Eden Gardens was complete and convincing. The second semi-final will decide who they face in the final.
