Overview:
With six points from three matches, South Africa have qualified for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. On the other hand, New Zealand will have to win their last game of the league stage to book their place in the next round.
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Skipper Aiden Markram smacked 86 not out off 44 balls as South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the T20 World Cup on Saturday.
Markram’s innings included four sixes and eight fours and underlined a dominant performance by the Proteas, as they won with 2.5 overs to spare.
South Africa finished with 178-3 in reply to New Zealand’s 175-7 after left-arm pacer Marco Jansen picked 4-40 in four overs.
It was New Zealand’s first defeat in the tournament, while South Africa moved one step closer to the next round with three successive wins in Group D.
Full Scorecard – South Africa vs New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup 2026, February 14
South Africa 178/3 (Aiden Markram 86, David Miller 24, James Neesham 1 wicket), beat New Zealand 175/7 (Mark Chapman 48, Mark Chapman 32, Marco Jansen 4 wickets) by 7 wickets
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Match Highlights & Key Moments
A crowd in excess of 50,000 – the highest for this World Cup – watched South Africa power its way to a win against the Black Caps with relative ease.
Put into bat, Jansen struck against the in-form top order. He had Tim Seifert caught behind for 13, while also accounting for Rachin Ravindra (13) and Finn Allen (31) in the space of four deliveries.
When Keshav Maharaj bowled Glenn Phillips for 1, New Zealand was down to 64-4 in 6.4 overs.
It recovered thanks to 74 off 44 balls between Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, who top-scored with 48 off 26 balls. Mitchell scored 32 off 24 balls.
Jansen again provided the breakthrough as Chapman was out caught in the 14th over. New Zealand struggled to cross 180 thereafter, losing three wickets in 17 balls. James Neesham’s 23 not out gave it something to fight with.
But Markram set a hectic pace, smashing 50 off only 19 balls – the quickest for South Africa in tournament history.
It was also the third fastest T20 half-century against New Zealand as South Africa reached 100 in 44 balls.
The other top-order batters made useful contributions, as Makram changed gears to see his side home with plenty to spare. New Zealand is now five matches without a win against South Africa in the T20 World Cups.
Player of the Match
Marco Jansen was named the Player of the Match for taking 4 wickets and conceding 40 runs from his 4 overs.
What This Result Means for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
With six points from three matches, South Africa have qualified for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. On the other hand, New Zealand will have to win their last game of the league stage to book their place in the next round.
FAQs – Yesterday’s South Africa vs New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Q1: Who won yesterday’s South Africa vs New Zealand match?
A1: South Africa won the match by 7 wickets against New Zealand on February 14, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
A2: Marco Jansen was adjudged the Player of the Match for his four-wicket haul.
Q3: What was the final score of yesterday’s match?
A3: South Africa vs New Zealand
South Africa 178/3 (Aiden Markram 86, David Miller 24, James Neesham 1 wicket),
New Zealand 175/7 (Mark Chapman 48, Mark Chapman 32, Marco Jansen 4 wickets)
Q4: What’s the next fixture of South Africa and New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
A4: New Zealand will compete with Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, on February 17.
South Africa’s next match is against the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on February 18.