Proteas blasted out of T20 World Cup by Black Caps

New Zealand snapped their winless streak against South Africa in the T20 World Cup with a supercharged performance in Kolkata on Wednesday.

After restricting South Africa to 169/8, Finn Allen powered the Black Caps to 173/1 in 12.5 overs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. Allen was a man on a mission as he scored a 100 off just 33 balls, the fastest century in Men's T20 World Cups to take his team to a nine-wicket win.

Having entered the contest unbeaten, South Africa were completely blown away by a strong New Zealand side on the day.

Chasing a tricky target of 170, New Zealand charged out of the blocks. The Black Caps have ridden their luck to score 84/0 in the first six overs. It is the second-highest PowerPlay score of this World Cup, only two behind India's 86/1 against Namibia.

Tim Seifert and Allen have already hit nine fours and five sixes and have put their team in the driver's seat. Allen struck a six and four fours in succession against Corbin Bosch, piling 22 runs in the sixth over.

Even after the fielding restrictions came off, Seifert and Allen continued to press on. Seifert brought up his half-century in 28 balls while Allen has been in punishing mood, and slammed a fifty off just 19 balls, the joint-fastest this World Cup.

Kagiso Rabada gave the Proteas the breakthrough as he go through Seifert's defences. But Seifert had already played his part, scoring 58 for 33, with the help of seven fours and two sixes.

Electing to field first, New Zealand came into the crucial contest with a plan.

The Black Caps deployed off-spinner Cole McConchie in the second over to test the South African top order. And the gamble paid off immediately as he dismissed left-handers Quinton De Kock and Ryan Rickelton off successive deliveries to peg South Africa back to 12/2.

In fine form earlier in the tournament, captain Aiden Markram could not steer them clear out of danger. After a 43-run partnership with Dewald Brevis, Markram fell to a superb diving catch by Daryl Mitchell off Rachin Ravindra.

Brevis played a handy knock of 34 and seemed to have the measure of the surface, which was on the slower side. But he did not stay long enough either and ended up chipping the ball straight to cover off James Neesham.

Once reeling at 77/5, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen dragged South Africa back on track with a 73-run partnership off 48 balls. Jansen and Stubbs got stuck into Neesham in the 18th over, plundering 22 runs off it to lend some much-needed momentum to the innings.

Jansen used his long levers and easy power to full effect, and brought up his half-century with back-to-back sixes against Lockie Ferguson. He hit five sixes and two fours to finish unbeaten on 55 off 30 balls.

It was McConchie (2/9) and left-arm spinner Ravindra (2/29) who had helped the Black Caps make early inroads. Pacer Matt Henry also claimed two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson and Neesham chipped in with a wicket each. The water-tight New Zealand bowling line-up kept South Africa in check almost through the innings, save the late charge by Jansen.

South Africa Men’s Squad - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), George Linde (World Sports Betting Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kwena Maphaka  (DP World Lions), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors).