South Africa vs New Zealand: New Zealand delivered a spectacular performance to secure their place in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final. The highly anticipated South Africa vs New Zealand clash turned into a historic night for New Zealand thanks to a sensational century by opener Finn Allen.
Allen produced one of the most explosive innings ever seen in T20 World Cup history. The aggressive right-hander smashed an unbeaten 100 runs from only 33 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century in the tournament. His remarkable knock guided New Zealand to a comfortable victory as they chased down South Africa’s target with ease.
South Africa had earlier posted 169 runs for eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. However, New Zealand’s powerful batting lineup made the chase look effortless, reaching 170 for one in just 12.5 overs to book their spot in the final.
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 🇳🇿
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
New Zealand are through to the #T20WorldCup 2026 Final 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mu40jg4k3C
Match Overview: South Africa vs New Zealand Semi-Final
| Match | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 – 1st Semi-Final |
|---|---|
| Teams | South Africa vs New Zealand |
| South Africa Total | 169/8 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand Total | 170/1 (12.5 overs) |
| Result | New Zealand won by 9 wickets |
| Key Performer | Finn Allen |
The South Africa vs New Zealand encounter quickly swung in New Zealand’s favor once their openers began attacking from the start of the innings.
Finn Allen Creates History with Record-Breaking Century
The biggest talking point of the South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final was Finn Allen’s historic century. The New Zealand opener reached his hundred in just 33 deliveries, establishing the fastest century in T20 World Cup history.
Before this match, the record was held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who scored a century in 47 balls against England during the 2016 T20 World Cup. Allen’s incredible innings surpassed that milestone by a wide margin.
He remained unbeaten on 100 runs, striking 10 boundaries and 8 sixes during his unforgettable innings. Allen dominated the South African bowling attack with fearless hitting, turning the chase into a one-sided contest.
Finn Allen’s Historic Knock
| Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100* | 33 | 10 | 8 | 303.03 |
This remarkable performance ensured that the South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final will be remembered as one of the most exciting matches in T20 World Cup history.
A record-breaking knock from Finn Allen took New Zealand into the #T20WorldCup final🙌
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
He wins the @aramco POTM🏅
📝: https://t.co/nv2bu4uGh7 pic.twitter.com/SnTAU9mWX4
New Zealand’s Explosive Run Chase
New Zealand began the run chase in aggressive fashion and quickly put pressure on the South African bowlers. The opening partnership attacked from the beginning, scoring rapidly during the powerplay overs.
The team reached 50 runs in just 4.1 overs, demonstrating their attacking intent. Soon after, they crossed the 100-run mark in only 7.5 overs, effectively sealing the outcome of the match.
Tim Seifert played a crucial supporting role with an impressive half-century. He scored 58 runs from 33 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.
Finn Allen’s blazing ton in the chase gets New Zealand into their second Men’s #T20WorldCup final 🔥
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
📝: https://t.co/nv2bu4uGh7 pic.twitter.com/j4DcTSum3y
New Zealand Batting Performance
| Player | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Allen | 100* | 33 | 10 | 8 | Not Out |
| Tim Seifert | 58 | 33 | 7 | 2 | Bowled |
| Rachin Ravindra | 13* | 11 | 2 | 0 | Not Out |
Allen also reached his half-century quickly, scoring 50 runs in only 19 balls. His aggressive approach completely shifted the momentum in the South Africa vs New Zealand match.
South Africa’s Batting Effort
Earlier in the evening, South Africa struggled to build consistent partnerships after losing a few early wickets. Despite the setbacks, Marco Jansen delivered an impressive performance with the bat.
The tall all-rounder remained unbeaten on 55 runs from 30 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes. His powerful hitting in the final overs helped South Africa post a respectable total of 169 runs.
South Africa Batting Scorecard
| Player | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Jansen | 55* | 30 | 2 | 5 |
| Dewald Brevis | 34 | 27 | 3 | 2 |
| Tristan Stubbs | 29 | 24 | 2 | 1 |
| Aiden Markram | 18 | 20 | 1 | 1 |
| Quinton de Kock | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| David Miller | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Corbin Bosch | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa reached the 100-run mark in 13.5 overs, but they struggled to accelerate consistently in the middle overs. The lack of partnerships prevented them from setting a more challenging total for New Zealand.
New Zealand Bowlers Control the Game
New Zealand’s bowlers played an important role in limiting South Africa’s scoring opportunities. They picked up key wickets at crucial moments and maintained control throughout the innings.
Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson were particularly effective with the ball, ensuring South Africa could not gain significant momentum.
Their disciplined bowling performance helped set up New Zealand’s successful chase in the South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final.
Playing XI – South Africa vs New Zealand
New Zealand Squad
| Players |
|---|
| Finn Allen |
| Tim Seifert |
| Rachin Ravindra |
| Glenn Phillips |
| Daryl Mitchell |
| Mark Chapman |
| Mitchell Santner (Captain) |
| Cole McConchie |
| James Neesham |
| Matt Henry |
| Lockie Ferguson |
South Africa Squad
| Players |
|---|
| Aiden Markram (Captain) |
| Quinton de Kock |
| Ryan Rickelton |
| Dewald Brevis |
| David Miller |
| Tristan Stubbs |
| Marco Jansen |
| Corbin Bosch |
| Keshav Maharaj |
| Kagiso Rabada |
| Lungi Ngidi |
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to field first, a decision that ultimately worked perfectly for his side.
New Zealand Move One Step Closer to the Trophy
The South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final will be remembered for Finn Allen’s record-breaking innings and New Zealand’s dominant performance. The Kiwi team showed excellent teamwork with both bat and ball, comfortably defeating South Africa to reach the final.
For South Africa, the loss ended their hopes of lifting the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy. Despite Marco Jansen’s strong contribution with the bat, the team could not stop New Zealand’s powerful batting attack.
New Zealand will now head into the T20 World Cup 2026 final with confidence and strong momentum. If their key players continue performing at this level, the team could be on the verge of lifting another major international cricket title.
