New Zealand crushed South Africa (SA vs NZ) by 9 wickets in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, storming into the final with a real sense of pride. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen set the tone right from the start, launching a brutal attack on the South African bowlers. Both openers hammered quick half-centuries leaving South Africa reeling. With this win, New Zealand booked their spot in Sunday’s big final. Now they will take on whoever wins the second semi-final between India and England. Finn Allen, meanwhile made history as he smashed a century off just 33 balls, the fastest ever in T20 World Cup history.
South Africa set a target of 170, but New Zealand barely broke a sweat. They chased it down in just 12.5 overs, finishing at 173 for 1. Seifert and Allen opened with a blistering 117-run stand. Seifert eventually fell for 58 off 33 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes before Kagiso Rabada knocked him over. After that, Rachin Ravindra joined Allen at the crease. Allen didn’t let up as he blasted 10 fours and 8 sixes on his way to that world record hundred. Ravindra held up his end, finishing unbeaten on 13 from 11 balls.
Earlier, Marco Jansen kept South Africa alive with an unbeaten 55 from 30 balls, rescuing them after an early collapse. The pitch was tricky for batters, and New Zealand’s spinners made the most of it. Cole McConchie took 2 wickets for just 9 runs, and Rachin Ravindra grabbed 2 for 29, tearing through South Africa’s top order. Jansen and Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) fought back, adding 73 for the sixth wicket after South Africa slumped to 77 for 5 in the 11th over.
As the innings went on, the dew started to help the batters, making stroke play easier. Jansen, one of the world’s top all-rounders, smashed five sixes and most of them landing deep into the stands, showing off his power. He even hit two sixes off Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner decided to bowl first and threw the ball to McConchie in the second over. He only bowled that one over but made it count, dismissing Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0) with back-to-back deliveries. Dewald Brevis chipped in with 34 from 27 balls but couldn’t build on his start as James Neesham got him out. Ravindra then took care of Aiden Markram (18) and David Miller (6). South Africa kept losing wickets, especially in the last two overs, and couldn’t push past 175. In the end, New Zealand just looked unstoppable. Now, all eyes are on the final.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55 not out; Cole McConchie 2/9, Rachin Ravindra 2/29) lost to New Zealand 173/1 in 12.5 overs (Finn Allen 100 not out; Kagiso Rabada 1/28) by nine wickets.
