Kolkata, March 5: New Zealand has secured its place in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026. The team triumphed over South Africa by 9 wickets in a semi-final match held at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
The match was not an easy feat for New Zealand, as South Africa had remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. In the group stage, New Zealand had suffered a defeat against South Africa. However, in the semi-final, New Zealand showcased a different performance, achieving a decisive victory.
New Zealand won the crucial toss and opted to bowl first. South Africa struggled to set a substantial score, managing only 169 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, thanks to Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 55 runs off 30 balls.
In response, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert put New Zealand in a commanding position, adding 117 runs for the first wicket in just 9.1 overs. Seifert scored 58 runs off 33 balls before being dismissed, but Allen continued his assault. He scored a remarkable 100 runs off 33 balls, hitting 10 fours and 8 sixes, marking the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. With this explosive performance, New Zealand chased down the target, finishing at 173 runs for the loss of just one wicket in 12.5 overs.
This marks New Zealand’s second appearance in the T20 World Cup final. The team previously reached the final in 2021, where they faced England. In that match, under the captaincy of Kane Williamson, New Zealand posted 172 runs for 4 wickets. Williamson scored an impressive 85 runs off 48 balls.
Australia, led by Aaron Finch, won that final by 8 wickets, chasing down the target with contributions from David Warner (53 runs) and Mitchell Marsh (77 runs).
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