Fast bowling all-rounder, Marco Jansen, played a memorable knock after his team, South Africa, found itself in some deep trouble against the New Zealand cricket team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final. He slammed a stunning half-century and brought his side back to the driving seat with the help of Tristan Stubbs.
NZ vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Final: Proteas in Trouble After Collapse, Marco Jansen Delivers Crucial Knock
After being asked to bat first, the South African cricket team started on the worst possible note as they lost their dangerous opener early in the innings. Quinton de Kock managed just 10 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, hitting one four and one six during his brief 8-ball stay at the crease.
Spin was brought in early, and it paid off straight away. Cole McConchie struck twice in the second over, removing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton off back-to-back deliveries to put South Africa on the back foot.
After the powerplay, New Zealand’s spinners tightened the screws and made scoring difficult. Rachin Ravindra then added to the pressure by dismissing the in-form Aiden Markram for 16. Things only got worse for the Proteas as David Miller and Dewald Brevis fell in quick succession.
This is South Africa’s fourth T20 World Cup semifinal, and they are still chasing their first title after finishing runners-up to India in 2024. New Zealand, playing their fifth semifinal, will be hoping to go one step further than their runner-up finish in 2021.
Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs Break Record Of Highest 6th Wicket Partnership In T20Is for SA
Marco Jansen smashed an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls in Kolkata, hitting 2 fours and 5 sixes. Tristan Stubbs made 29 from 24, while Dewald Brevis added 34 off 27 at No. 4.
Jansen and Stubbs put on 73 runs for the sixth wicket, the highest sixth-wicket or lower stand for South Africa in T20Is. The previous record was 71 runs by Stubbs and Patrick Kruger against the West Indies in Tarouba in August 2024.
Meanwhile, fans were quick to flood social media with their reactions to another batting failure of the South African cricket team. Fans were quick to revive the old “chokers” tag, with Memes and sarcastic posts flooded timelines, poking fun at the Proteas’ painful history in knockout games.
Check how fans reacted to another batting collapse of South Africa:
They won all the group matches
and showed their mettle as soon as the semi-finals arrived.
OG Chokers Of cricket
Missed Them So much#NZvsSA pic.twitter.com/3a8yRwqxOK— Akhlesh Gurjar (@Akhleshhgurjar) March 4, 2026
Once again, they proved they’re the real chokers of world cricket…
The story continues 😭#SAvsNZ #NZvsSA
— Kuldeep Singh Dhillon (@itskuldeepsingh) March 4, 2026
Commentators already calling us chokers. pic.twitter.com/dLPYljMuu4
— Joe Scudda (@Joe_Scuddaa) March 4, 2026
27-ball FIFTY in a World Cup Semi-Final! 🤯🔥
Marco Jansen has absolutely stunned New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final!
What a fearless counter-attack under pressure — taking South Africa towards a massive total. Big stage, big knock! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BItWGIRJBL
— Cricklover (@kumarmanoj_11) March 4, 2026
WHEN THE PRESSURE WAS HIGHEST AT THE BIGGEST STAGE WHEN SOUTH AFRICA NEEDED HIM MOST MARCO JANSEN HAS STEPPED FOR HIS COUNTRY AND PLAYED AN INNING TO REMEMBER V/S NEW ZEALAND 🙌🏻#NZvsSA #SAvsNZ #T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup2026 #T20WorldCup26 pic.twitter.com/sh3MNMT8D5
— Shaurya Singh (@shaurya22414) March 4, 2026
T20 World Cup:
Marco Jansen 55(30) rescued South Africa from 77/5(10.2) to competitive score 169/8.
Dewald Brevis 34(27) & Tristan Stubbs 29(24) were other contributors.
2 wickets each for Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra & Matt Henry.#T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup26 #SAvsNZ #NZvsSA pic.twitter.com/nLLAFdNEn5— बातम्या खेळांच्या (@Surendra21286) March 4, 2026
IF South Africa lose this game one of the reasons could be that Bosch and Rabada not getting Jansen on strike
— Harin Sekhon (@harinsekhonn) March 4, 2026
South Africa lost 5 wickets for 77 runs, it seemed difficult for the team to score even 150 runs, but then Marco Jansen took charge of the team and took his team to a respectable score of 169 runs with a half-century.#SAvsNZ pic.twitter.com/JxQWhGPl0d
— Pradum Bhaskar (@PradumBhaskar) March 4, 2026
When it’s a competition of chokers and you are South Africapic.twitter.com/xdpYpV5abd
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) March 4, 2026
NZ vs SA Playing XI:
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
