New Zealand crushed South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After being invited to bat first, South Africa lost two early wickets in the second over. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis tried to stabilise the innings, but South Africa had lost half their side in 10.2 overs. Marco Jansen then played a superb knock of 55 off just 30 balls and built a 73-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the sixth wicket. South Africa eventually managed 169/8 in 20 overs. Cole McConchie (2/9 in one over) was the most successful bowler for New Zealand, while Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry also took two wickets each.
While chasing, Finn Allen completely dominated the innings. He smashed a 33-ball century — the fastest ever in a men’s T20 World Cup. His brutal hitting made the target look insignificant.
As Allen celebrated his remarkable hundred, Tim Seifert, his explosive opening partner, pumped his fist in the dugout. New Zealand finished the match with nine wickets in hand and more than seven overs to spare.
Bowlers Restrict South Africa to 169
South Africa batted first on a slower-than-usual Eden Gardens pitch. New Zealand’s attack, strengthened by Henry’s return, kept tight control. They limited South Africa to 169 for 8 in 20 overs.
Then came a stunning batting display.
McConchie Strikes Early
Captain Mitchell Santner made a bold move in the second over. He handed the new ball to offspin allrounder Cole McConchie.
The decision paid off immediately.
Quinton de Kock attacked first. He swiped McConchie over mid-on for four. But the bowler responded on the very next delivery. He pushed one into the pitch, and de Kock lofted a simple catch to mid-on. He fell for 10 off eight balls. It was the third time in five innings that an offspinner dismissed him in this tournament.
Ryan Rickelton, batting at No.3, followed next ball. He tried to cut an offbreak but sliced it to short third man for a golden duck. Dewald Brevis survived the hat-trick ball, yet McConchie had already done major damage. He was the 18th player added to New Zealand’s squad for this tournament, and he delivered instantly.
Santner and Ravindra Apply Pressure
With the powerplay done and two left-handers dismissed, Santner brought himself into the attack. He conceded just three runs in his first over.
Earlier, Jimmy Neesham had gone for 17 runs in a powerplay over after replacing legspinner Ish Sodhi. Santner’s tight bowling balanced that damage.
Rachin Ravindra then joined the attack and struck in his first over. He floated one up to Aiden Markram, who was caught at long-on for 18 off 20 balls. Daryl Mitchell sprinted in, dived forward, and completed a catch inches above the ground. Replays showed it was close, but TV umpire Nitin Menon ruled it clean.
Ravindra had earlier dropped Markram on 3 at midwicket. This wicket gave him redemption.
Against David Miller, Ravindra increased his pace and kept the ball away from Miller’s strong hitting arc. He nearly dismissed him on 3, but Glenn Phillips dropped a rare catch in the deep. Miller added only three more runs before chipping a simple catch to Mitchell at long-off.
Ravindra finished with 2 for 29 in four overs. He now has 11 wickets in the tournament. Among spinners, only Varun Chakravarthy, the top-ranked T20I bowler, has more wickets in this edition.
South Africa Collapse Before Jansen’s Rescue
Brevis played a brief attacking knock of 34 off 27 balls. However, the slow pitch trapped him. He mistimed a drive and spooned a catch to Santner at cover off Neesham. South Africa slipped to 77 for 5.
Then Marco Jansen stepped up. He built a 73-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the sixth wicket — a record stand for South Africa in men’s T20Is at that position.
Jansen attacked confidently. He hit Ravindra, his former teammate at Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, for a six. He then smashed Henry for a no-look six over wide long-on.
Jansen reached his fifty in just 27 balls with a six off Neesham. He finished with a career-best 55 off 30 balls, including two fours and five sixes.
Lockie Ferguson ended the partnership in the 19th over. He bowled Stubbs for 29 off 24 balls with a clever legcutter. Henry closed the innings with a tight final over that also saw the wickets of Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada.
Thanks to Jansen’s effort, South Africa at least had a competitive total to defend.
Allen Turns the Chase Into a Spectacle
That total quickly became meaningless once dew settled in and Allen launched his assault.
He faced 33 balls and struck 18 of them to or beyond the boundary. Rabada tried legcutters. Lungi Ngidi used slower deliveries. Jansen hit hard lengths. Bosch relied on pace. Nothing worked.
Allen reached his fifty in 19 balls. Then he raced to his century in 33 balls. He broke Chris Gayle’s previous T20 World Cup record of a 47-ball hundred against England in 2016.
Seifert also provided a blazing start. He scored 41 of New Zealand’s 62 runs in the first five overs. In the final over of the powerplay, Allen hammered Bosch for 6,4,4,4,4. New Zealand ended the powerplay at 84 for 0. It was the second-highest powerplay score in this tournament and the highest ever in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
From that point, the match was a one-man show.
New Zealand now march into the final with momentum and belief, powered by a fearless batting display and a disciplined bowling effort.
Brief Scorecard
