Date: March 4, 2026 | Time: 7:00 PM IST | Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
South Africa vs New Zealand: The business end of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has arrived! The unbeaten South Africa will lock horns with a resilient New Zealand in the first semi-final tonight at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With a spot in the grand finale in Ahmedabad on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Match Preview: The Unstoppable Proteas vs The Tactical Kiwis
South Africa vs New Zealand: South Africa enters this knockout clash as the heavy favorites. Led by Aiden Markram, the Proteas have been flawless, winning all seven of their matches in the tournament so far. Their top order, featuring the aggressive Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis, has consistently delivered, while the pace battery of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi has been lethal.
South Africa vs New Zealand: New Zealand, on the other hand, had a rollercoaster journey to the semi-finals. Mitchell Santner’s men squeezed through the Super 8s from Group 2 on net run rate. However, the Black Caps are known for their big-match temperament. With explosive batters like Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips, and a balanced bowling attack spearheaded by Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand has the firepower to pull off an upset and break their T20 World Cup losing streak against the Proteas.
T20 World Cup 2026: Probable Playing XIs for SA vs NZ
South Africa vs New Zealand: Expect both teams to field their strongest lineups for this crucial knockout game. South Africa rested key pacers in their previous match but will bring their frontline attack back tonight.
South Africa Probable XI:
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Ryan Rickelton
- Aiden Markram (c)
- Dewald Brevis
- David Miller
- Tristan Stubbs
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
- Anrich Nortje
New Zealand Probable XI:
- Finn Allen
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Rachin Ravindra
- Glenn Phillips
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Ish Sodhi
- Matt Henry / Jacob Duffy
- Lockie Ferguson
- Kyle Jamieson
Full Squads for the Semi-Final Clash
- South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Jason Smith.
- New Zealand Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report and Weather Forecast
The pitch at Eden Gardens is famously a batting paradise. The fast outfield and shorter boundaries mean fans can expect a high-scoring thriller. While pacers might get some early swing, the surface generally stays true. Spinners will need to be extremely disciplined to avoid being taken to the cleaners. The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first, keeping the dew factor in mind for the second innings.
Weather & Rain Rules: The forecast for Kolkata today is clear and breezy with zero chance of rain. However, in the rare event of a washout, Thursday, March 5, is designated as the official reserve day. If both days are washed out, South Africa will advance to the final due to finishing higher in their Super 8 group.
Head-to-Head Record: SA vs NZ in T20Is
South Africa holds a dominant record over New Zealand in the shortest format, especially on the World Cup stage.
- Overall T20Is: Matches: 19 | South Africa Won: 12 | New Zealand Won: 7
- In T20 World Cups: Matches: 5 | South Africa Won: 5 | New Zealand Won: 0
The Kiwis will be desperate to flip the script and secure their first-ever T20 World Cup victory against the Proteas tonight.
Match Details at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
| Match | South Africa vs New Zealand, Semi-Final 1 |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App and Website |