In a commanding display at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group D encounter on February 14, securing their spot in the Super 8 stage as the first team to qualify.
The Proteas, unbeaten in the tournament so far, extended their T20 World Cup dominance over the Black Caps to 5-0, chasing down 176 with 17 balls to spare.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch offering early movement but expected to favor batsmen later. New Zealand started steadily, with openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert navigating the new ball from Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Allen smashed 31 off 17 balls, including two fours and two sixes,
before Marco Jansen's change of pace had him caught at mid-off.
Seifert fell earlier to Jansen, top-edging a short ball to the keeper after a dismissive six. Rachin Ravindra contributed 13 but was caught at short third man off Jansen, leaving New Zealand at 58/3 after the powerplay.Glenn Phillips departed cheaply for 1, playing on to Keshav Maharaj. A recovery ensued through a 57-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman. Chapman top-scored with a brisk 48 off 26, featuring powerful sixes off Markram's off-spin, but edged a slower ball from Jansen to backward point.
Mitchell was caught at long-on off Ngidi, and Mitchell Santner edged to deep third off debutant Corbin Bosch. James Neesham's 23 off 15 provided late impetus, but New Zealand managed only 175/7, stumbling with 3 wickets for 7 runs in the death overs. Jansen starred with career-best figures of 4/40, his slower variations proving lethal.
In reply, South Africa exploded in the powerplay, posting 83 runs - their joint-highest in T20 World Cups.
Quinton de Kock (20 off 14) fell to Lockie Ferguson's slower legcutter, but Markram unleashed a barrage, racing to a 19-ball fifty - South Africa's fastest in the competition - with exquisite drives and sixes off Jacob Duffy and Mitchell Santner.
Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis (21 off 17) supported briefly, but both skied catches to long-on off James Neesham. Markram, unbeaten on 86 off 44, sealed the win with a six from David Miller in the 18th over, finishing at 178/3 in 17.1 overs.
South Africa Qualify for Super 8s in T20 WC 2026
With the win, the Proteas have qualified for the next round. They are the first team to progress to the Super 8s, but before that, Aiden Markram's boys will conclude group stages against UAE.
