South Africa lose to New Zealand in semi-finals

The South African cricket team’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign wrapped up on Wednesday with a nine-wicket semi-final loss to New Zealand at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After suffering an early collapse, the Proteas, who finished runner-ups to India at the last T20 World Cup in 2024, struggled to a respectable total of 169/8 thanks to an unbeaten half-century by Marco Jansen.

However, with Kiwi openers Tim Seifert (58 off 33) and Finn Allen (100 not out off 33 balls) in devastating form, the haul proved far from enough as New Zealand reached the target in just 12.5 overs to register their first-ever win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup.

The head-to-head record stood at 5-0 heading into Wednesday’s match.

Sent in to bat first, South Africa’s top order crumbled. The Proteas found themselves in dire straits early on at 12/2 within two overs as Cole McConchie struck twice in two balls, dismissing Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0).

Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis tried to rebuild the innings with a 43-run stand but Rachin Ravidra sent back the Protea captain in the eighth over to break the partnership.

Ravindra struck again a couple of overs later to send back David Miller while Jimmy Neesham dismissed Brevis for 34 shortly after, leaving South Africa reeling at 77/5 by the 11th over.

However, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen staged a remarkable recovery with a gritty 73-run partnership - a new sixth-wicket partnership record for South Africa. After a careful rebuild, the duo broke the shackles in the 18th over, taking 22 runs off Neesham to push the score past 150.

While Stubbs eventually fell after contributing a crucial 29 off 24 balls, Jansen took over the mantle and reached his fifty in just 27 deliveries.

Despite Matt Henry’s double-strike in the final over to remove Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada, Jansen’s unbeaten 55 off 30 balls, punctuated by two boundaries and five sixes, ensured South Africa posted a competitive 169/8 in 20 overs.

The Kiwi openers, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, looked to be in a hurry to board the flight for Ahmedabad for the final as they plundered 84 in the powerplay overs.

While Seifert was responsible for the early onslaught, Allen soon joined in and hit Corbin Bosch for 22 off the final over of powerplay.

Seifert reached his fifty in 28 balls while Allen reached the milestone nine balls quicker to register the fastest half-century against South Africa in T20 World Cup history.

The partnership was finally broken with Kagiso Rabada pegging back Seifert’s middle stump. However, with the Kiwis at 117/1 in 9.1 overs, the breakthrough came a little too late.

Allen, with Ravindra at the other end, continued his rampage and sealed off the chase with a boundary - a hit which brought up his hundred in just 33 balls. His strike rate exceeded 300.

The knock decimated the record for the fastest century in a T20 World Cup, eclipsing Chris Gayle’s 47-ball ton against England from 2016. This is also the joint-fastest T20I century by any player from a full-member nation, tied with Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza.

The India vs England second T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final will decide who joins New Zealand in Sunday’s summit clash.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s next international assignment will be a five-match T20I series against New Zealand which starts from March 15.

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