LIVE | SA vs NZ Live Score Today T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal Live Match Updates: Finn Allen, Bowlers Star as New Zealand Crush South Africa in Kolkata to Reach Final | NZ 173/1, SA 169/8

Finn Allen finished off in style with a 33-ball century. He reached the milestone with five boundaries in a row against Marco Jansen. The right-handed batter struck the fastest century in the T20 World Cup, breaking Chris Gayle’s record.

Finn Allen has continued to toy away with South African bowlers and fielders. The right-handed batter has consistently managed to find the boundary, in spite of experiencing some cramps.

New Zealand are continuing to make a mockery of the chase. Rachin Ravindra, coming in at number three, has already struck a couple of fours in his eight-ball stay. The Kiwis require only 33 runs in 54 balls to win their first match against South Africa in the T20 World Cup. 

A little respite for South Africa as Kagiso Rabada breaks the opening stand. The right-arm pacer’s lack of celebration showed how it was probably too little too late for the bowling side. 

Finn Allen hits the joint-fastest fifty in the T20 World Cup 2026. The right-handed batter reached the milestone off 19 balls. He hit a six in the ninth over as well, as New Zealand now require only 53 runs to win in 11 overs. 

Tim Seifert has raced to a fifty off 28 deliveries. He reached the milestone by a streaky outside edge boundary. His opening partner, Allen, too, is not really far away from his fifty. Ngidi was hit for a couple of fours in the eighth over as the New Zealand openers brought up the century partnership. 

South Africa brought Keshav Maharaj in the seventh over. The spinner started with a couple of dot balls before being hit by a four by Seifert. Has the game gone from SA’s grasp already?

New Zealand have absolutely bossed this powerplay courtesy of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert. Allen struck a boundary on the first five balls of the sixth over from Corbin Bosh. Using the fielding restrictions to perfection, the Kiwi openers have raced to 84 runs in the first six overs and are smashing each of the South African bowlers around the park. 

Kagiso Rabada returned to the attack with a change of ends. The senior South African pacer was struck for a six and a four by Seifert as he failed to make an impact as New Zealand continued to make a cakewalk of the chase. 

South Africa lost a review as challenging on-field umpire, Alex Wharf’s decision goes against them for a caught behind. Meanwhile, New Zealand have gotten off to a brisk start with both opening batters going big against the South African bowlers. Allen struck a six while Seifert smashed a six and a four in the third over, with Jansen being on the receiving end. 

South Africa called upon their most experienced pacer, Kagiso Rabada, but Quinton de Kock dropped a tough chance to send back Tim Seifert. The wicketkeeper had to run a lot to almost fine-leg, but in the end, could not even get his fingertips to the ball. Luck continued to be with New Zealand as Finn Allen edged one for the boundary on the next ball. 

Tim Seifert got New Zealand off to the mark with a couple of outside edges racing to the boundary. Marco Jansen, bowling the first over, has found some lateral movement. He induced three outside edges but could not get a wicket. 

South Africa, after being 77 for 5, have finished with 169 runs on the board in the first innings. Marco Jansen played the crucial knock for the Proteas, scoring 55 runs in 30 balls. The 73-run partnership between Jansen and Tristan Stubbs for the sixth-wicket was the highest for South Africa in T20 World Cups. 

Matt Henry finished off the innings with a couple of wickets, more importantly, denying the danger man, Marco Jansen, the strike. 

Marco Jansen is playing a match-winning knock for the Proteas. The all-rounder struck a couple of sixes on the trot to reach his half-century in only 27 balls. 

Lockie Ferguson rattled the stumps as he sent Tristan Stubbs back to the pavilion. Stubbs scored 29 runs off 24 balls. The wicket in the 19th over could put on the brakes on the high-flying South African batting unit. 

South Africa has managed to stitch together a couple of big overs. After scoring 15 runs in the 17th over, they scored 22 in the 18th. Stubbs went on the attacking mode against Jimmy Neesham as he struck him for a couple of boundaries. Jansen, too, managed a couple of boundaries in the last two balls of the over. 

Marco Jansen struck a stylish no-look six as Matt Henry returned for his second spell. Tristan Stubbs, from the opposite end, decided to join the party as well, as he pulled the fourth delivery of the over for a four. The two batters also completed their 50-run partnership. With three overs remaining, it is now or never for the South African batting unit. 

Quiet phase of play for South Africa. Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen are trying to steady the innings and rebuild for the Proteas. Can they push the total past the 160 mark? We’ll find out soon.

New Zealand have been outstanding so far, stepping up brilliantly on the big stage at Eden Gardens. The question now — can they finish the job strongly from here?

Drinks break! It’s been New Zealand’s session so far. Can South Africa fight back in the final few overs? Anything under 160 might be below par on this surface, and if the dew sets in later, even 180 may not be enough.

South Africa struck their first boundary after 20 balls thanks to a cheeky outside edge from the bat of Marco Jansen.

New Zealand are right on top of South Africa in this all-important clash. The Kiwis have not only picked up crucial wickets but have also not allowed the Proteas batters to free their arms. Rachin Ravindra has been a great fourth bowler for his team having given only 19 runs in his three overs. 

Jimmy Neesham redeemed himself by picking up Tristan Stubbs’ wicket in the 11th over. The medium pacer had conceded 17 runs in his first over, but now has taken the crucial wicket of Dewald Brevis. 

South Africa and the term ‘choking’ have gone hand in hand in ICC tournaments. Coming into the clash, the Proteas were unbeaten; however, in the middle of the first innings, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, having lost half of their side with only 80 runs on the board. 

Glenn Phillips Drops A Catch?!? Yes, you read that right, unarguably the greatest fielder in the current cricketing world, Glenn Phillips, dropped a catch. However, Miller could not make most of the second life provided to him as he holed out on the last ball of the over with Darryl Mitchell taking his second catch of the match. 

Dewald Brevis provided the much-needed boundary for South Africa. The right-handed batter deposited Mitchell Santner’s first ball of the over into the stands to hit the first boundary for his team after 18 balls. With David Miller at the crease, the batting team now has a left-hand, right-hand combination. 

Rachin Ravindra, after dropping a fairly simple catch in the fourth over, redeemed himself by picking up the crucial wicket of the South African skipper, Aiden Markram. The catch taken by Darryl Mitchell was rechecked by the third umpire before going in favour of the Kiwis.

The New Zealand skipper, Mitchell Santner, brought himself into the attack right after the powerplay. He brought back a sense of calm for the Blackcaps in the middle with a quiet over. The right-arm off-spinner was right on the money in his first over, keeping the stumps in play. 

Lockie Ferguson has started his spell economically. The right-arm pacer in his two overs has given away only nine runs and has posed multiple questions to the South African batters. Had Ravindra not dropped Markram’s catch, Ferguson’s figures would have been even better. 

Mitchell Santner’s decision to bring Jimmy Neesham to bowl the fifth over backfired with South Africa scoring 17 runs. Markram, after being dropped in the previous over, is starting to look dangerous. The right-handed batter charged down the pitch to smash the second six of the match. Dewald Brevis crunched a couple of drives to pick up two fours off the last two balls.

Cole McConchie was replaced in the bowling attack by Lockie Ferguson after picking up two wickets in his previous over. The pacer almost picked up the crucial wicket of Aiden Markram in the fourth over, but Rachin Ravindra at mid-wicket dropped a sitter. 

Matt Henry has started poorly after returning from New Zealand overnight. The right-arm pacer has gone for 13 runs in his two overs. He has been unusually inconsistent with his line and sent down a wide down the leg side resulting in five runs off wides. 

Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton depart in the second over, with Cole McConchie picking up the two left-handers. New Zealand are right on top in this crucial semi-final clash.

The Eden Gardens is buzzing as fans get ready for yet another electrifying showdown! 

Aiden Markram at the toss: Everyone contributed at some stage which is really pleasing. Hopefully we can start well with the bat and put a good score on the board. We trained here last night and putting runs on the board in a knock-out game is not the worst thing. We got 3 changes. Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj is back for us.

Mitchell Santner Speaks: We’re going to have a bowl. I guess we had a little look the other night at what the pitch looked like. It looked pretty good. It should be pretty flat again, so try and make some inroads at the start and try and restrict them to a score. We know they’re (South Africa) a great outfit, as they’ve shown throughout this tournament. So yeah, we know we’ve got to be on. And I guess, semi-final, there’s always a little bit of pressure, but I think if we can just go out there and do our thing and see what happens and put them under pressure in periods and I guess we’ll see what happens. Matty Henry’s made it back in time, which is nice. So he’s obviously in. We’ve got one change from our Colombo game. It’s probably not going to spin as much over as it did over there, so Neesham is back in for Ish (Sodhi).

New Zealand have won the toss and opted to field first. Matt Henry and James Neesham have been brought back to the team, While, the Proteas have brought back Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj in the playing XI

T20 World Cup 2026 is officially the most successful T20 World Cup event in history! 

We are just a few minutes away from the toss. Stay tuned to NewsX as we bring you the live coverage of the T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final all the way from Kolkata! 

Before today, South Africa and New Zealand had only met in ICC knockout games in the 50-over format (1996 Quarter-final, 2011 Quarter-final, and 2015 Semi-final), but those took place in Faisalabad, Dhaka, and Auckland respectively.

The Kiwis have also made their way to the stadium! Will they end South Africa’s unbeaten run today? 

The Proteas have arrived at the Eden Gardens! Confident faces as they look to reach the final undefeated. 

Mitchell Santner confirmed that Matt Henry is travelling back to India after being home for the birth of his child and is expected to link up with the squad on the eve of the match. A final decision on his availability will be taken on match day based on his fitness. If Henry is not ready, Jacob Duffy is poised to step in, having put in an extended bowling stint in training alongside Kyle Jamieson. New Zealand opted for five spinners against England in Colombo, but that combination is unlikely to be repeated in Kolkata. James Neesham could come into the XI in place of Cole McConchie.

The numbers are backing South Africa! Can New Zealand defy the odds and reach their second-ever T20 World Cup Final? 

The stage is set for yet another electrifying game at the Eden Gardens! Who will reach the final? 

South Africa dominate the head-to-head record against New Zealand in T20 cricket. Across all T20 Internationals, the two teams have met 19 times, with the Proteas winning 12 matches and the Black Caps winning 7.

In the T20 World Cup, South Africa’s record is even more impressive as they remain undefeated against New Zealand. They have played five matches in the tournament’s history and South Africa have won all five encounters. Their most recent meeting was on February 14 during the 2026 group stage, where South Africa secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

New Zealand enters the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final with a lot of promise qualifying via a superior Net Run Rate. Led by Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps rely on Tim Seifert’s 216 runs and Rachin Ravindra’s 9 wickets to drive their campaign. Despite a 0–5 World Cup record against South Africa, their big-match temperament makes them a dangerous knockout opponent at Eden Gardens.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match between South Africa and New Zealand! 

It’s a huge day in the T20 World Cup 2026 as South Africa take on New Zealand in the 1st Semi-Final!