Written By: Alex Maathai

South Africa secured a comfortable victory over New Zealand in Match 24 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, winning by seven wickets with 17 balls remaining.

Aiden Markram led the charge with an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, recording his personal best in T20 Internationals and South Africa’s fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history. Marco Jansen grabbed four wickets to restrict New Zealand to 175/7, breaking key partnerships at crucial moments.

The Proteas raced to 83/1 in the powerplay, matching their highest powerplay score in T20 World Cups, before completing the chase in just 17.1 overs.

South Africa vs New Zealand WC 2026 – Match Details

Keshav Maharaj turns into a passionate umpire after dismissing Glenn Phillips
Source: ESPN cricinfo
DetailInformation
MatchNew Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match, Group D
VenueNarendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
DateFebruary 14, 2026
TossSouth Africa won and elected to bowl
ResultSouth Africa won by 7 wickets (with 17 balls remaining)
ScoresNew Zealand 175/7 (20), South Africa 178/3 (17.1)

NZ vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights – First Innings

New Zealand started aggressively as Tim Seifert and Finn Allen attacked from the first ball. Allen scored 31 off 17 balls with four boundaries and two sixes, while Seifert added 13 off 9 before Marco Jansen removed both openers.

Rachin Ravindra fell for 13 to Jansen in the sixth over, leaving New Zealand at 58/3. Glenn Phillips walked in but lasted just three deliveries before Keshav Maharaj bowled him for 1.

Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell rebuilt with a 74-run stand. Chapman struck six fours and two sixes in his 48 off 26 balls, while Mitchell contributed 32 off 24. Jansen returned to dismiss Chapman with a slower ball at 138/5.

Lungi Ngidi removed Mitchell at 141/6, and Corbin Bosch dismissed captain Mitchell Santner for 4. James Neesham provided late hitting with an unbeaten 23 off 15, including two fours off the final two balls of the innings.

PlayerRolePerformanceBalls/OversSR/Econ
Mark ChapmanBatsman48 runs26 balls184.61
Finn AllenBatsman31 runs17 balls182.35
Marco JansenBowler4 wickets4 overs10.00
Keshav MaharajBowler1 wicket3 overs8.00

New Zealand vs South Africa Live Score – Second Innings Highlights

South Africa began their chase at lightning speed. Aiden Markram struck two boundaries in the first over from Matt Henry and added a six in the second over. Quinton de Kock joined the attack, hitting a straight drive for four to become the first South African to reach 3000 T20I runs.

The opening pair added 62 in 28 balls before Lockie Ferguson bowled de Kock with a slower delivery for 20 off 14. South Africa reached 83/1 in the powerplay, their joint-highest in T20 World Cups.

Markram reached his fifty in just 19 balls, the fastest for South Africa in T20 World Cup history. Ryan Rickelton scored 21 off 11 before James Neesham caught him at long-on.

Dewald Brevis made 21 off 17 with one four and one six before Rachin Ravindra dismissed him at 131/3. David Miller joined Markram and the pair took South Africa home without further loss. Miller struck a six off the first ball of the 18th over to seal the win.

PlayerRolePerformanceBalls/OversSR/Econ
Aiden MarkramBatsman86* runs44 balls195.45
David MillerBatsman24* runs17 balls141.17
Lockie FergusonBowler1 wicket4 overs10.42
Rachin RavindraBowler1 wicket3.1 overs2.84

SA vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Match- Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen earned Player of the Match for his 4/40 in four overs. He dismissed both New Zealand openers in the powerplay and returned to remove Mark Chapman with a clever slower ball. His four-wicket haul was his first in T20 Internationals and broke two significant partnerships.

New Zealand vs South Africa Head to Head

South Africa extended their unbeaten run against New Zealand in T20 World Cups to 5-0. This victory took their overall record against the Kiwis in T20Is to 12 wins from 19 matches and secured their place in the Super 8 stage as Group D winners.

Conclusion

New Zealand vs South Africa at the WC 2026 saw South Africa dominate with a 7-wicket win, led by Aiden Markram’s career-best knock and Marco Jansen’s four-wicket haul in Ahmedabad.

About the Author

Alex Maathai is a Cape Town-based cricket analyst and former club-level player. With deep knowledge of domestic structures and Proteas history, he provides context-rich insights that connect today’s matches to South Africa’s cricket legacy.

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