New Zealand’s James Neesham celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton throughout an ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad on February 14, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: PTI
After surviving a mighty Afghan scare by the barest of margins, South Africa left nothing to likelihood in its seven-wicket demolition of New Zealand on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday (February 14, 2026). The consequence prolonged the Proteas’ successful run within the T20 World Cup.
A 55,000-strong weekend crowd roared as skipper Aiden Markram smashed the Kiwi pacers throughout the park within the PowerPlay to ignite South Africa’s 176-run pursuit. By the point his opening companion, Quinton de Kock, was undone by Lockie Ferguson’s slower one within the fifth over, the duo had trimmed the goal by greater than a 3rd.
Markram (86 n.o., 44b, 8×4, 4×6) raised a 19-ball half-century with a six down the bottom to get the group on its ft and took his crew over the road with 17 balls to spare.
It was a near-perfect day for Markram. He had referred to as for extra self-discipline from his bowlers, they usually responded for the very best a part of the New Zealand innings.
The in-form Lungi Ngidi missed his strains within the PowerPlay, and Finn Allen punished him with three fours and a six within the third over. However the Proteas discovered one other hero within the lanky Marco Jansen (4 for 40).
The left-arm pacer received the damaging Tim Seifert to nick behind with a brief supply after the opener had flat-batted him for a six over long-on. It was an evening of instantaneous redemption for Jansen. After Rachin Ravindra scooped him for a six, Jansen shortened his size, and the southpaw edged to a diving David Miller at brief third-man.
Three deliveries later, the 25-year-old deceived Allen with a slower one to say his third scalp contained in the PowerPlay.
Because the Kiwis rebuilt by way of Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell’s 74-run fifth-wicket stand, Jansen made an important incision once more.
His slower supply induced a vanguard from Chapman. From there, the Kiwis may solely eke out 37 runs within the final six overs and fell approach brief.
The scores: New Zealand 175/7 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 31, Mark Chapman 48, Daryl Mitchell 32, Marco Jansen 4/40) misplaced to South Africa 178/3 in 17.1 overs (Aiden Markram 86 n.o.).
Toss: South Africa. PoM: Jansen.
Groups:
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
South Africa: 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.
Printed – February 14, 2026 07:01 pm IST
