The unbeaten South Africa will face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday, March 4, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The clash promises a high-stakes encounter as both sides aim to secure a place in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8.
South Africa enter the knockout stage as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won all seven of their matches. Their Super 8 campaign featured a dominant 76-run win over defending champions India, a nine-wicket victory over two-time champions West Indies, and a narrow win against Zimbabwe to finish top of their group.
New Zealand’s journey has been more mixed. They advanced from the group stage with three wins and a washout against Pakistan, and their Super 8 campaign saw a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka, a narrow loss to England, and a 61-run win in another match. Despite a couple of stumbles, the Black Caps progressed to the semi-finals on a strong net run rate.
Historically, South Africa holds a perfect 5-0 record against New Zealand in T20 World Cups, including a 7-wicket win over the Kiwis in this tournament’s group stage in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World cup: Key Players to Watch
For South Africa, captain Aiden Markram has been in superb form with 268 runs at an average of 53.60. Lungi Ngidi leads the bowling attack with 13 wickets, while Marco Jansen starred in their previous clash against New Zealand.
New Zealand’s hopes will rest on Tim Seifert, the team’s leading run-scorer with 216 runs, and Rachin Ravindra, who has contributed both with the ball (9 wickets) and in the middle order. The Black Caps will aim to end South Africa’s unbeaten streak and reach the T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2021.
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World cup: Match Details
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Time: 7;00 PM (Toss at 6:30 PM)
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World cup: Live Streaming Details
Where will the New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal match live telecast happen?
Live television coverage of the South Africa vs New Zealand ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network.
Where will the New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal match livestream happen?
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.
What If the Match is Washed Out?
The ICC has reserved an additional 90 minutes on the same day to complete proceedings. If rain interrupts play and no result is possible, the match will continue on the reserve day, March 5, from the point of interruption. If no play is possible even then, South Africa will progress to the final, as they topped Super 8 Group 1, while New Zealand finished second in Group 2.
With both sides bringing strong momentum, the semi-final promises a thrilling contest between the unbeaten Proteas and the resilient Black Caps at one of cricket’s most historic venues.
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World cup: Head-to-Head Record (T20 World Cups)
Total Meetings: 6
South Africa Wins: 5
New Zealand Wins: 0
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World Cup: Squads
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie