HIGHLIGHTS New Zealand vs South Africa, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, 24 T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for South Africa's reply with the bat. The players of New Zealand take their respective fielding spots. Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock are the two South African openers, making their way to the crease. Matt Henry has the new ball and is raring to go. Captain Markram to face. A slip in place. Here we go again!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Enough on the board? 176 it is for the Proteas to keep their spotless record intact against the Kiwis in the T20 World Cups. The Kiwis would get a feeling that they are 15-20 runs short. And with the dew starting to settle in, gripping the ball and controlling lengths could get increasingly tricky for the bowlers. But with the last six T20Is at Ahmedabad won by the teams setting the total and the highest successful chase being 165, it is all set for a gripping run chase.

Recovery on, squeeze back on - South Africa, well-tuned to the surface by now, mixed their pace cleverly and kept chipping away at momentum. Still, Mitchell found support in Mark Chapman, and together they stitched a steady 74-run stand that pulled things back from the brink. Just when New Zealand looked set to launch for a big finish, South Africa tightened the screws at the right time. Dot balls stacked up and the pressure climbed. Both set batters fell in quick time, and the innings dipped again from 138/4 to 145/7.

Early jitters - True bounce, lovely carry, and the ball flying off the blade. It looked like a batting dream. New Zealand began well with Finn Allen finding early rhythm, but Marco Jansen arrived and flipped the momentum instantly, striking thrice in the Powerplay. The wobble turned into a proper stumble when Keshav Maharaj sent Phillips back, dragging things from 57/1 to 64/4. Enter the usual firefighter, Daryl Mitchell, tasked with damage control yet again. Even with wickets falling, the Kiwis batted at a fair clip, reaching 92/4 at the halfway mark.

The Proteas excel with the ball - Despite the last two overs going for 20 runs, the South Africans would definitely feel that they have done a pretty good job bowling-wise. Almost every bowler hit their marks, and it was backed up by sharp fielding that kept the pressure firmly on throughout. New Zealand lost a bit too many wickets going towards the backend, which prevented them from getting a perfect lift for a big finish.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, FOUR MORE! James Neesham goes back-to-back at the end. Bosch misses his mark by a small margin. He allows Neesham to get under the ball and pays the price with mid off being inside the circle. James hangs deep, collapses his back knee to find the elevation and lofts it over mid off. One bounce and over the ropes. A couple of 10-run overs at the end for the Kiwis. New Zealand finish with 175 on the board!

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, FOUR! Neesham finally gets one away! Yorker gone wrong for Corbin. Low full toss, on off. Neesham crouches and swipes it behind square. Kagiso Rabada is quick across the turf in the deep to his left and dives. He gets a hand on it but it is not enough.

Corbin Bosch to Matt Henry, Low full toss, on middle and leg, Matt drills it to long on for just a single.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, Corbin slants it across, on a length, Neesham reaches out and hits towards wide mid off. This time, he takes the single.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, Fantastic stuff! Bosch nails the yorker, right at the toes. A bit of inward shape, Neesham gets the front leg out of the way and jams it back to the bowler.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, Bosch goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a low full toss, on off. Neesham fails to get the elevation and powers it to long on. There is no possibility of coming back for the second run, so he turns down the single.

Final over coming up. Corbin Bosch (3-0-24-1) to wrap up.

Marco Jansen to James Neesham, Shortish ball, outside off, Neesham gets his hands high and drags the pull to wide long on. He retains the strike with a single. 10 runs off the over!

Marco Jansen to James Neesham, FOUR! Cleverly played! On a short of a good length, over off. Neesham premeditates as he walks across the stumps and scoops it between short fine leg and the keeper for a four.

Marco Jansen to Matt Henry, Full and around leg, Matt makes room and mows it square on the leg side for one more.

Marco Jansen to James Neesham, Bashes the surface, over middle. Neesham mistimes the pull to deep square leg and picks up a single.

Marco Jansen to James Neesham, Brilliant work! Full and angled at the sticks, Neesham whips it nicely between deep mid-wicket and long on. Dewald Brevis charges to his right and dives before knocking it towards the converging long on fielder. Two runs taken.

Marco Jansen to Matt Henry, A yorker, across off, Henry digs it out in front of cover and crosses over.

How many more can the Kiwis add in the last two overs? They surely would want a total in excess of 180, given the dew factor and the greasy outfield. Marco Jansen (3-0-30-4) will bowl the penultimate over.

Kagiso Rabada to Matt Henry, Fine effort in the field! Fuller and on off, Henry goes hard at it and it is sliced to point where David Miller dives to his right and saves a certain boundary. Just a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Matt Henry, A bit shorter this time, on off, Henry knocks it from the crease to cover.

Kagiso Rabada to Matt Henry, On top of off, Matt gets on top of it and mistimes it to cover.

Kagiso Rabada to Matt Henry, FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! First boundary in 25 balls for New Zealand. Rabada hurls it on a back of a length, outside off. Henry pushes at it with hard hands and a high elbow. Gets an outside edge that races to deep third for a four.

Kagiso Rabada to James Neesham, Pace off, on a good length, on middle, Neesham taps it in front of point and gets to the other end. 150 comes up for New Zealand!

Kagiso Rabada to James Neesham, On a length, outside off, Neesham stands tall and drives it on the up through extra cover for a couple of runs.

7/2 in the last two overs for New Zealand. Into the death overs we go. Here's Kagiso Rabada (3-0-19-0) back into the attack.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, Angling away, on a back of a length, on off, Neesham angles it behind point and keeps the strike with a single.

Corbin Bosch to Matt Henry, On middle and leg, on a back of a length. Henry drops it beside the strip on the leg side and crosses over.

Corbin Bosch to Mitchell Santner, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! South Africa land another vital blow. With deep extra cover and deep backward point in place, Bosch keeps it full, outside off. Santner gives himself a bit of room to carve it on the off side by opening the bat face. He only gets the height and it goes towards deep point, where Ryan Rickelton sprints to his left from deep backward point and takes the catch before dropping on his knees. New Zealand have slipped to 145/7 from 138/4. Matt Henry is the new batter.

Corbin Bosch to Mitchell Santner, A flash and a miss! Mitchell Santner is crossed with himself. On the shorter side, wide on off. Santner throws the kitchen sink at it, but connects with thin air.

Corbin Bosch to James Neesham, Pitched up, on middle, Neesham firms the drive back towards the bowler. Bosch gets a hand on it and it is parried behind. Single taken.

Corbin Bosch to Mitchell Santner, Going across off, on a back of a length, Santner knocks it off the back foot to extra cover. They cross. Aiden Markram slides to mop it up and as he slides, it is visible how wet the outfield is.

Corbin Bosch (2-0-20-0) is back on, replacing Keshav Maharaj.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Santner, Hits the hard length, does Ngidi, on off. Santner pushes it in front of mid off and scampers through for a quick single. A wicket and just 3 runs off the over. 5 runs and 2 wickets in the last 13 balls.

Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, On top of off, on a back of a length, James stays leg side and pats it to deep point for one.

Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, Lands it on a good length, on off. Neesham taps it back on the strip.

Out goes Mitchell and the crease has a new occupant. James Neesham is in at 8.

Lungi Ngidi to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! CAUGHT! Daryl Mitchell holes out. This was coming. South Africa had managed to string dots after picking up the wicket of Mark Chapman, and the pressure has told. Angled into the right-hander, on the fuller side, on middle. Mitchell clears the front leg to pump it down the ground. The bat turns in his hand and the ball goes flat off the inner half of the bat, down to long on, where Tristan Stubbs takes a safe catch around his chest. Mitchell berates himself as he trudges off. Both set batters fall in quick succession for New Zealand.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Santner, Into the surface again, on off, Mitchell hops and gets on top of the bounce. He punches it to backward point, where David Miller dives and makes a half-stop. Just a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Santner, Beaten! Across off, on a hard length. Santner fiddles with it, but the ball zips past the outside edge.

A tidy over from Keshav Maharaj. 5 overs left in the innings. Lungi Ngidi returns to bowl out. 3-0-31-0 are his bowling figures so far.

Keshav Maharaj to Daryl Mitchell, Slows it up through the air, on that in-between length. Daryl Mitchell presses back and dabs it with soft hands to the bowler. What an excellent over from Maharaj. Just a couple of singles from it.

Keshav Maharaj to Mitchell Santner, Outside leg, on a length, Mitchell Santner turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to Mitchell Santner, Quicker and flatter, on the stumps, Mitchell Santner punches off the back foot to Markram at extra cover.

Keshav Maharaj to Mitchell Santner, In front of the sticks, on a length, Mitchell Santner rocks back and eases it back to Maharaj.

Keshav Maharaj to Mitchell Santner, Quicker delivery, short and on off, Santner backs away and punches it straight onto the stumps at the bowling end.

Keshav Maharaj to Daryl Mitchell, Pushed full and on middle, Daryl Mitchell leans on and flicks it through the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.

DRINKS BREAK! A timely breakthrough for South Africa. They were put under pressure by the flourishing stand between Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, but they will hope to build on this crucial scalp. New Zealand have done well to maintain the tempo of their innings despite that slide in the middle phase. They will know they need to keep pushing to get up to the 200 mark and beyond, because defending won't be easy with the possibility of dew later on. The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner, walks out to bat.

Marco Jansen to Mark Chapman, OUT! CAUGHT! The change of pace works again for Marco as he has his fourth wicket. On a slightly fuller length, around the off stump line, with pace taken off by Jansen. Mark Chapman wanders forward and tries to flick that across the line, but closes the bat face very early and a thick leading edge is found. The ball swirls towards backward point where Ryan Rickelton seems to have lost the ball in the ring of fire for a moment, but keeps his calm and takes a good catch. Chapman falls two short of his half century and the 74-run partnership is cut short. 3-0-30-4 for Marco, these are Jansen's best bowling figures in T20Is.

Marco Jansen to Daryl Mitchell, Another pace off, on a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell punches it between cover and point and they rush through for a single.

Marco Jansen to Mark Chapman, Slower length ball, around off, Chapman slices it off the back foot and hits it on the bounce to long off for a single.

Marco Jansen to Mark Chapman, Confusion but no harm done! A pinpoint yorker by Jansen, on the leg stump line, Mark Chapman jams the bat down, and the ball goes off the inside edge to short fine leg. Chapman is off for a single and is sent from halfway by Mitchell. The short fine leg fielder releases a flat throw to the batting end, but misses his shy, allowing Mark to get back in. The Proteas, however, have gone upstairs for a review for LBW. The replay confirms a clear deflection off the inside edge. But had the throw hit, Chapman was gone for all money.

Marco Jansen to Mark Chapman, FOUR! That's a glorious shot! Hits the length hard, and takes pace off. It skids on around off, Mark plays from the crease and steers it between the cover and backward point gap for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Daryl Mitchell, Very slow, around off, Daryl Mitchell takes it on the full and eases it through mid off for a quick single.

Kagiso Rabada to Mark Chapman, A slower dipping yorker on leg, Chapman digs it out to mid-wicket. Another over that goes in double digits for the Kiwis.

Kagiso Rabada to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Chapman races to 40 off 21! On a fuller length, on middle, Mark creates some room by moving leg side and thumps it over the bowler's head for a cracking boundary down the ground.

Kagiso Rabada to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Thwack! Slower short ball into the pitch, on over middle and leg, Mark Chapman reads the pace off, waits on it and pulls it behind square on the leg side, and finds the gap.

Kagiso Rabada to Daryl Mitchell, Nails the yorker in, on middle, Daryl jams it down past the bowler for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Mark Chapman, Rolls his fingers and bowls an off cutter, into the pitch, over off. Mark Chapman flays at it, and the ball pops off the outside edge towards deep third for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Mark Chapman, Attacks the stumps, on a fuller length, Mark plays from the crease and chops it to the point region.

Aiden Markram to Mark Chapman, Flat and quick, a tad short, around off, Mark Chapman is quick to back away and cuts it to deep point for a single. A very profitable over for New Zealand. 15 runs from it.

Aiden Markram to Mark Chapman, SIX! INTO THE STANDS! Another half volley by Aiden, in front of the middle pole. Mark Chapman needs no second invitation as he advances and muscles it behind deep mid-wicket for a big six.

Aiden Markram to Daryl Mitchell, Overpitched, full, on off, Daryl Mitchell walks forward and drills it to long on for a single. The 50-run partnership comes up between Mitchell and Chapman.

A brief hold-up as the players wait for the crowd to return the ball.

Aiden Markram to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! LAUNCHED! A juicy half volley, on middle, Daryl Mitchell plays with a straight bat and pumps it over long on for a cracking six. Clean as a whistle. Mitchell moves to 27 off 17 balls.

Aiden Markram to Mark Chapman, Flat off break, on a length, around off, Mark Chapman chop-cuts it to deep point for a single.

Aiden Markram to Mark Chapman, Overpitched, full and drifting on leg, Mark Chapman shovels it back at the bowler.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, Full and on the stumps, angling in, Daryl Mitchell flicks it to the right of long on for a couple.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Good shot! Change of pace from Bosch. Off cutter, on middle, full in length. Mitchell picks it up and over mid off. Aiden Markram sprints from the inner ring and slides to flick the ball back in. The ball ends up trickling onto the boundary ropes off his left hand.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, Hits the deck very hard, outside off, Daryl square cuts it wide of deep point and sprints back for the second run. 100 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Corbin Bosch to Mark Chapman, On a hard length, over middle. Chapman is taken aback slightly as the ball kicks up a bit. He fends it beside the strip on the off side for one.

Corbin Bosch to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Fast hands from Mark Chapman! Bosch rushes the batter with a hard-length delivery but Chapman is equal to the task. He rides the bounce and cuts it fiercely to the left of the diving backward point fielder for a four.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, This is on a back of a length, outside off, Mitchell moves towards the off side and has a big swing across the line. Gets it high on the bat and the ball dribbles to long on for one.

Halfway reached. New Zealand are going at a fair clip with 92/4 on the board. The partnership is budding steadily and the nerves are settling for them. Corbin Bosch is brought back into the attack, replacing Keshav Maharaj.

Lungi Ngidi to Daryl Mitchell, Skidding through, on a short of a length, around off, Mitchell guides it to the right of point and keeps the strike with a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Mark Chapman, Another low full toss, on off, Chapman swings a bit too hard and loses his shape. Shanks it in front of square on the leg side for one.

Lungi Ngidi to Daryl Mitchell, There's that dipping pace off ball. Low full toss, on off, Mitchell checks his drive and plays it down to long on. They cross.

Lungi Ngidi to Daryl Mitchell, Off-cutter, on a good length, on middle. Mitchell waits on the slower ball and taps it with soft hands in the vacant mid-wicket region. He manages to come back for the second before the fielder from the deep gets to the ball.

Lungi Ngidi to Daryl Mitchell, Rapped on the pads! Not given. Lungi Ngidi is interested but Aiden Markram decides against the review. The impact looked outside the line and height was also an issue. Angled in, on a back of a length, around off. Mitchell shuffles across but is beaten on the block on the inside edge. Gets rapped high on the front pad.

Lungi Ngidi to Mark Chapman, Around leg, on a length, Chapman works it through backward square leg and turns the strike over.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, Full and on middle, pushed to long on for one more by Mark.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Excellent effort from Dewald Brevis, but in vain! Short and around off, Chapman presses deep in the crease and pummels it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Brevis is a bit square in the deep and he runs to his right before flinging himself towards the ball. He fails to cling on and lands hard on his right shoulder. He can only watch the ball trickle into the ropes. Not sure if he would have managed to stay in the field of play even if he had taken the catch.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, Pushes it through, short and on top of off, Mark mistimes the pull to mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj to Daryl Mitchell, Slows it down and gets a bit of inward drift. Fuller and on off, Mitchell clips it off the front pad to deep square leg for one.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, Shorter and quicker, around the hips, Chapman shovels it behind square for a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, Sliding across off, slightly short, Chapman reaches out and slaps it past the diving cover-point fielder. Kagiso Rabada gets around in the deep and cuts it off with a slide. Two runs taken.

26/3 in the last 3 overs for New Zealand. These two have a massive responsibility to rebuild through this middle phase. Maharaj to continue. 1-0-13-1 so far.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, A bit more effort behind this ball, on a short of a good length, outside off. Daryl Mitchell angles it to backward point and with a loud call of 'No', he sends Chapman back, who was keen for a single.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, Bosch pulls the length back, on off and middle. Mitchell takes a step across the stumps and nurdles it between deep square leg and mid-wicket for a brace.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Hit with real authority! Another cross-seam ball but a bit too full, on off. Mitchell stays back, gets the front leg out of the way and pumps it over mid off for a boundary.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, Cross-seam delivery, on a back of a length, over off. Daryl gets behind the line of the ball and taps it to the catching mid-wicket fielder.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, And again! A bit of away movement, on a back of a length, outside off. Mitchell looks to run it down with an open bat face but misses.

Corbin Bosch to Daryl Mitchell, Beats the bat straight away! Bosch slams the hard length, outside off, Mitchell walks closer to the line of the ball and gets his hands high to punch it away but the ball whistles past the outside edge.

Corbin Bosch is brought into the attack now. He replaces Marco Jansen.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, SIX! All the way! Fractionally short, on middle. It is enough for Chapman. He picks up the length in a flash and nails the pull between deep mid-wicket and long on for a six.

Keshav Maharaj to Daryl Mitchell, Gives the ball a bit of air, fuller and on off, Mitchell plays an uppish drive but away from the reach of the bowler to his left. Gets off the mark with a single.

All going south for the Blackcaps on a decent batting pitch. The crisis manager for New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell is in at number 6.

Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Keshav Maharaj lets out a big roar. He is thrilled to bits. Stays around the wicket, does Maharaj and this is speared in, on a length. The ball drifts back into the right-hander, in and around the off pole. Phillips does not move his feet at all and just extends his hands into the drive. The ball comes back in with the arm to catch the inside edge and it deflects onto the leg pole. From being 57/1, New Zealand are now 64/4.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, Flatter and shorter, quicker too, on middle, Mark hops back and punches it to long off for a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Flighted delivery, fuller and on the off pole. Chapman reaches out in front and slams the sweep to the left of the man at deep mid-wicket for a four.

Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, Sliding on with the arm, short and on middle. Phillips rocks back and works it to long on for a single.

Whose Powerplay was it? New Zealand got fifty-plus, but at the cost of losing their top three. Slight edge to the Proteas. And here comes Keshav Maharaj to put on the choke with his spin. He replaces Kagiso Rabada.

Marco Jansen to Mark Chapman, This is interesting. From around the wicket to the left-hander, Jansen angles it across the batter, on a back of a length. Chapman gets on top of it and taps it to cover. 2 wickets and 7 runs off the final over of the Powerplay as South Africa end it on a high. At the end of 6 overs, New Zealand are 58/3.

Double strike for Jansen and he has all three to boast. Mark Chapman walks in at number 5 with the Kiwis struggling.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, OUT! CAUGHT! Finn Allen knew it as soon as he hit it. Two wickets in the over for Marco Jansen, and this is a massive wicket for the Proteas. Jansen rolls his fingers over the ball and floats it up, just outside the off stump. Allen hangs deep in the crease and tries to go over mid off, but fails to get any sort of elevation on the lofted hit. Hits it flat to mid off, where Aiden Markram gobbles it up around his knee. All 3 wickets have belonged to Jansen.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, Across off, on a back of a length, Finn punches it to cover-point off the back foot.

Marco Jansen to Glenn Phillips, Leg bye! Too straight, around the hips, Phillips tries to shovel it away but misses. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the thigh pad on the leg side.

The lean patch in T20Is continues for Ravindra. With the fall of the wicket, the umpires have called for a DRINKS BREAK. South Africa would be pleased to pick two big wickets inside the Powerplay. The pitch looks a belter for scoring runs and New Zealand would bank on Finn Allen to convert his start into a big score. They might need a total in excess of 200 to be on the safe side, given the dew factor later on. Glenn Phillips is the new batter in at number 4.

Marco Jansen to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! CAUGHT! Expertly held by David Miller. In the channel, on a short of a length, Ravindra looks to force it away on the off side and he goes at it with hard hands. The ball takes the outside edge and flies to short third, where David Miller is standing on the edge of the ring. He moves to his right and puts in a dive to snaffle a good, low catch.

Marco Jansen to Rachin Ravindra, SIX! Innovative and mighty effective! On a hard length, outside off, Rachin walks across the stumps and gets inside the line of the ball. He manages to get under the ball and uses the pace to scoop it over deep fine leg for a six.

Marco Jansen to continue.

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, Zips through the deck, on a length, on off, Rachin Ravindra plays it late off the back foot and runs it wide of short third for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, FOUR! Good connection! An off cutter by Rabada, outside off, on a good length. Rachin Ravindra slashes it over point for a boundary. 50 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, In the air... lands safely! A well-directed short ball, on top of middle. Rachin Ravindra stands tall to pull it over mid-wicket, but slices it due to the extra bounce. The ball spoons up in the air and Kagiso Rabada turns around to go for the catch, but slips and falls awkwardly. The ball lands in front of the charging mid on fielder. Surely, Rachin was sweating on it to land safe.

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, Hard length, on the leg stump, Ravindra stays put and blocks it solidly off the back foot.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Full and on the stumps, Finn Allen badly mistimes his heave off the inner part of the bat to deep square leg for a single.

Oops! Just as Kagiso Rabada was about to load up, he lost the ball from his grasp, and it dribbled down the pitch towards the batter. 'Hit it!' came the cheeky shout from the comms box, courtesy of Ian Smith. Finn Allen picked the ball up and just lobbed it back to the bowler. 'New Zealand, you’re too nice,' quips Smith.

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, Hard length, across the batter, Rachin punches it on the up to deep point for a single.

Change of ends for Kagiso Rabada. He conceded just 2 runs in his opening over.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, On a back of a length, on middle, Finn Allen hops and bunts it down the ground with soft hands.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, SIX! Going, going, and gone! Short of a good length, on the bodyline of the batter. Finn Allen picks it up and pulls it aerially towards deep backward square leg. Tristan Stubbs feels he is in the game for the catch, so he times his leap to throw it back in the playing area, but the ball had enough wheels to sail over him.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, FOUR! Off the edge! On a back of a length, angling away from the right-hander. Finn Allen gets squared up on the back foot, hanging his bat away from his body. Plays it with soft hands and the ball goes along the ground, beating short third to his left for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Rachin Ravindra, On a fuller length, on middle, Rachin flicks it to the left of mid on for a single to get off the mark.

In walks Rachin Ravindra at number 3. He has an ODI World Cup hundred at this ground and will hope to break his recent string of low scores here.

Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Jansen ruins the party for Seifert. Smart bowling actually, as this is banged in short, over the stumps with extra bounce. Tim Seifert arches back to flat bat that over covers, but only gets a feather of the outside edge. The ball carries behind to Quinton de Kock, who takes a fine catch with a slight leap. An important breakthrough for the Proteas, given the form of Seifert. New Zealand are 33/1.

Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert, SIX! SMOKED! Marco lands it on a fractionally fuller length, on off, Tim Seifert gets under it properly and clubs it neatly to sail that all the way behind long on for a six.

Marco Jansen has been introduced into the attack, replacing Kagiso Rabada.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! Timed to perfection! Ngidi goes full and on middle and leg, tailing in on the pads. Finn Allen gets his head over the ball and flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket for a boundary. A massive over for the Kiwis. 18 runs from it.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, SIX! DISAPPEARED! Lungi goes pace off on a fullish length, around off. Finn Allen gets the ball into his wheelhouse, and with a free-flowing bat swing, he pumps it behind long on for a cracking six.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Nagging length, outside off, Finn Allen thrashes it off the back foot to cover.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Ngidi with a slight appeal for a run out! A slower delivery, full toss, on off, Finn Allen drills it straight down the pitch. Lungi Ngidi extends his right hand on the follow-through as the ball smashes the stumps on the non-striker's end. Ngidi appeals, but with not much conviction. The on-field umpire has sent it upstairs for a check. Three angles for the TV umpire's help. It is confirmed that the ball didn't come in contact with Ngidi's fingers or his right leg. UltraEdge comes up with a flat line.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! He is teeing off now! On a back of a length, wide outside off, Finn Allen gets to free his arms and slashes it like a knife over point for another boundary. Two in two for Finn.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! Up and over! Too much width by Ngidi, full and outside off, Finn Allen plays with the movement and slices it over backward point for a boundary.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Misses the yorker by a yard or so, on middle, Allen gently pushes it to the left of mid on for a quick run.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Angled on the leg stump line, on a good length, Allen looks to whip that over square leg, but gets beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the thigh. There's a bit of verbal exchange between Allen and Rabada.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, BEATEN! Slides one down the leg stump line, on a fullish length. Finn shuffles across to scoop, but misses. The ball passes scarily close to the leg pole on the way to the keeper.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Absolute ripper! Pitched on a length, around off, nipping away. Finn Allen pokes at it loosely without much footwork and the ball zips past his outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert, Back of a length, over middle, nipping back in. Tim Seifert pulls it off the inner half of the blade to deep backward square leg for a run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert, Rabada is on the money! Slammed hard into the deck, on middle and leg, Tim Seifert gets a bit across and nudges it to the leg side, in front of square.

Kagiso Rabada will steam in from the other end. He had a game to forget against Afghanistan and will be eager to bounce back tonight.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Angled into the batter, on a good length, on leg, Tim Seifert knocks it off the inner half, towards mid on for a run. 7 from the first over.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Swing and a miss! Keeps it outside off, full in length, moving away from the right-hander. Tim Seifert throws the kitchen sink at it, only to get beaten on the outside edge.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Slower ball, on off, Seifert thrashes it along the ground, but straight to the mid off fielder.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Into the body, slanted on a length, Finn Allen bunts it in front of mid on for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, EDGED BUT SAFE! Full again, outside off, shaping away late. Tim Seifert pushes at it from the crease, but again gets a thick outside edge. The ball evades the massive wingspan of Marco Jansen to his right and is stopped by Stubbs in the deep with a slide. Just a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, FOUR! Action and fortune straightaway! Ngidi gets a good bit of outswing on a fuller length, outside off, Tim throws his hands at it to thrash it away to the off side, but gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies well wide of the leaping slip fielder and races away to the deep third fence, beating Stubbs to his left.

We are done with the national anthems, and it is time for the action to get underway. A decent crowd has turned up, and expect more to trickle in. Aiden Markram and his troops make their way out to the centre. They are followed by the two Kiwi openers, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert. Lungi Ngidi will get things going with the new ball. Seifert to face the first ball. A slip in place. Here we go!

The giant flags of the two nations have been unveiled. The match officials lead the way before Aiden Markram and Mitchell Santner lead their charges out, along with the mascots. It will be South Africa's national anthem first, followed by that of New Zealand.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner says it looks like a good wicket, and they would try to put on a huge total on the board and hope that dew doesn't arrive later in the evening. On the preparations for this match, Santner shares it's been good. Says there are no easy games in this tournament and adds that they know how good a side South Africa is. Tells that they have made small improvements from the first game and look forward to taking it further. Wraps up by informing that they are going unchanged.

The captain of South Africa - Aiden Markram says the decision to bowl first is influenced by their previous night game at the venue, where the wicket got better as the match progressed. He hopes they can restrict New Zealand and then take advantage of the conditions while chasing. He mentions there was not a lot of dew in that earlier game, just a bit, and admits it can be somewhat unpredictable. With a cheeky smile, he adds that they certainly won't complain if there is a little more dew around tonight. Markram shares that the clash against Afghanistan was physically and emotionally draining, but the side has regrouped and is ready to put in a strong performance. Informs that they have made one change with Corbin Bosch coming in for George Linde.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch (In for George Linde), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand (Unchanged Playing XI) - Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Jacob Duffy.

TOSS - Righto, it is coming to toss time in Ahmedabad. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Santner are already out in the middle, with the team sheets exchanged. Everyone's favorite, Ian Smith, leads the proceedings. Santner will flip and Markram will call. Markram calls it correctly. SOUTH AFRICA HAVE ELECTED TO BOWL.

PITCH REPORT - Danny Morrison reports a hot day with temperatures peaking at 33 degrees Celsius, though it is expected to cool down to around 17 degrees later in the evening. Informs that the square boundaries measure 62 metres on one side and 74 metres on the other, while it is 72 metres down the ground. Shaun Pollock joins him, and he believes dew will definitely be a factor as the night progresses. He observes that the surface has a good grass covering and feels hard when tapped, suggesting plenty of pace and carry. Shaun shares that Afghanistan scored at a strike rate of 148.7 against pace on balls from the Proteas seamers, but that dropped to 102.7 against pace-off deliveries, highlighting how crucial variations will be for the quicks. Ends by saying that this wicket is a belter and he expects a high-scoring game.

An update from Kolkata - In a crucial game for England, they have passed their test against Scotland at Eden Gardens. First, they restricted Scotland to a middling total of 152, with every bowler chipping in with wickets, led by Adil Rashid's 3/36. It also saw Jofra Archer get back to form with a couple of early wickets. And in the chase, they did lose both their openers in the first two overs, but a 66-run partnership between Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton saved the day for them, with the latter staying unbeaten on 63. England won by 5 wickets with 10 balls to spare. This puts them in the second spot in Group C, behind West Indies. And this defeat marks Scotland's second in three games. They tried hard, but they just didn't have enough on the board to defend and make the fight out of it.

Form, foes, and fables - South Africa enjoy a spotless record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cups, and the fact that they haven’t met since the 2014 edition is striking. New Zealand do not have happy memories in Ahmedabad, getting bowled out on their third-lowest T20I score of 66 in 2023. South Africa have seen it all here, a win, a loss and even a Super Over in the previous game. They lead 11-7 overall against New Zealand in this format, but just one victory in the last five meetings keeps this clash unpredictable and adds plenty of spice. Both teams, whenever they meet, have produced several classics in all forms, so let's hope this one stays true to that. Toss and teams coming up very shortly. Stay tuned.

Conditions and combinations - South Africa stay put in Ahmedabad, with familiarity on their side as this will be their third game on the trot here. New Zealand arrive from Chennai, trading spin comfort for bounce and carry. Red soil means lift, pace, and shots that travel. And with both teams boasting batting units that send shivers down the spine of bowlers, all capable of scoring free-flowingly, a high-octane run fest seems likely. Seam is expected to dominate, but if the dew stays away, spin could still sneak into the action. Toss could prove decisive under lights, with teams chasing having won just three of the ten T20Is played here.

Cutthroat group? Group D was billed as a maze. Turns out, two teams brought the map. New Zealand and South Africa sit pretty with two wins each, already nudging the Super 8 door open. This is no longer about staying alive. It is about arriving with authority. One more win and the table almost settles itself. Afghanistan were meant to complicate the script, but for now, they are the pause between two dominant narratives. The runners-up of the previous edition, South Africa, now run into the quietly efficient New Zealand at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium. On that note, hello and a warm welcome to our coverage of Match 24 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026.

... MATCH DAY ...

Battle of the heavyweights! Ahmedabad gets ready for a cracker as two heavyweights battle against one another in the final game of Saturday's tripleheader. It is New Zealand taking on South Africa with the winner certifying a spot for itself in the Super Eights. Easy peasy so far - The Kiwis have just eased through so far. Chased down 183 with consummate ease against Afghanistan while made a mockery of the target of 174 against the United Arab Emirates. However, by their own admission, they have conceded a bit more than they would have liked, in both matches. The batting has looked in supreme shape, with Tim Seifert leading the charge. They were in a bit of a strife against the Afghans but rallied out of that one. A tough recent past - It has not been a good few months for the Black Caps. A horrendous 1-4 series loss to the Indians. Coming out victors against West Indies at home, but despite winning 3-1, challenged in every match, being labelled as the closest home series ever for the Kiwis. Prior to that, losing series to England and Australia, both in home conditions. So if we do the math - from October 2025, New Zealand have played 12 completed T20Is prior to the World Cup but won just 4. That may be a reason why their bowling has been under the pump but these two wins, through solid batting would have eased their nerves a bit. They had arranged a tour to India for getting acclimatized to the conditions and despite being beaten black and blue by India, at least, they have started well in this tourney. From New Zealand's point of view, while a win puts them in the Super Eights, a loss need not be too harmful for them. With Afghanistan losing both their opening matches, and Canada and the United Arab Emirates to come after this, the Black Caps would be confident of making it through to the next stage. However, if they make it on the back of three straight wins, it would make them feel a lot happier. The Kiwis move from Chennai to Ahmedabad, which has already seen two high-scoring matches. So the bowling will once again be tested and if the Kiwis are bowling second, the dew could definitely play a part. Home, sweet home - Talking about Ahmedabad, South Africa will find themselves at home. This is their third match of this tournament and all the three at one venue - so they will have a heads up about the conditions as compared to New Zealand. Post the 2025 World Test Championship final, the Proteas believe that they have now shed that dreaded 'C' word. Yes, it did appear for the Ladies in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup but we will stick with the Men for now. They came agonizingly close of lifting the trophy in 2024 and believe that they can go again and do one step better this time. A promising Indian tour - Like the Kiwis, the Proteas too arranged a tour for themselves to Indian shores, albeit a bit earlier than the Black Caps. It started with a stunning 2-0 clean sweep in Tests, to a respectable 1-2 loss in the ODIs, before culminating into a 1-3 defeat in the T20Is. So they too, can argue that they have a fair knowledge about the grounds in India. The 'C' word strikes again! Escape from jail. That's what South Africa would deem their previous match against Afghanistan. They were nearly made to revisit that 'C' word in that clash. The game should have been done in normal time, in the first ball of the 20th over. But as fate would have it, one mistake cost them and it almost took the match away. Glass is half full - However, the opportunist always looks at the water filled in the glass and not with the space left. The fact that they managed to come out of that Afghanistan game, albeit through huffing and puffing, would have given them a lot of confidence. Mental recovery - Recovery in any sport is not just physical. A lot of it is mental and emotional. The Saffas would be happy with the 2 points they got from that Afghanistan game, but they would have been drained to no end. Have they mentally recovered post that thriller on Wednesday? Only time will tell. History beckons Saffas! 4-0. That's the win-loss record for South Africa over New Zealand in Men's T20 World Cups. Durban, Lord's, Bridgetown and Chattogram. But barring that encounter in the inaugural edition, the win margins have been pretty close - 1 run, 13 runs, while the last one, in 2014, being by just 2 runs. So it has been a case of there and thereabouts for the Kiwis. As far as this particular match is concerned, the Team In Green and Yellow have another headstart over the Kiwis. They have picked up 18 wickets in two matches, as opposed to 12 by the Black Caps. Additionally, they have scored more runs as well, but at the cost of double the wickets. They have batted first in both their games, while the Kiwis have chased in their two openers. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - South Africa - WWLWW | New Zealand - WWLWL. Dew on offer? The conditions in Ahmedabad at this time of the year usually dictate teams to bowl first, with dew set to kick in around 3-3.30 pm GMT. A no brainer for the captain to chase, on winning the toss.