๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐๐
South Africa
New Zealand
New Zealand will take on South Africa in the 1st semi-final of the ICC Menโs T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. South Africa will enter this match as the only unbeaten team in the tournament. They have won all 7 matches, 4 group games and 3 Super Eight fixtures.
New Zealand reached the semi-final after a mixed Super Eight campaign. They won 3 group-stage matches but managed only 1 win in the Super Eight round, along with a loss and a no result.
Qualification came through a superior net run rate over Pakistan. In the last 5 matches, New Zealand has recorded 2 wins, 2 losses and one no result, while South Africa maintains a perfect streak. New Zealand hold a slight edge with 3 wins in the last 5 meetings, with 2 totals defended.
South Africaโs top and middle order have shown stronger power-hitting depth with 60 sixes from their top 6 batters compared to New Zealandโs 43, giving them a clear advantage in hitting.
The betting tip is...
Most Sixes - South Africa
69 %
31 %
South AfricaNew ZealandAiden Markram leads from the front with 268 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 175.16, including 3 fifties. Ryan Rickelton has 228 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 171.42. Dewald Brevis and Quinton de Kock have scored 173 and 171 runs respectively at strike rates of 151.75 and 135.71.
David Miller has 168 runs at 158.49, while Tristan Stubbs has chipped in with 105 runs at a strike rate of 140. Jansen and Bosch strengthen the lower order with finishing ability.
Lungi Ngidi will lead the bowling attack with 12 wickets in 6 innings, as the third-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen have11 wickets each. Kagiso Rabada has just 4 wickets in 6 games, while Anrich Nortje has 3 in 2 matches. Keshav Maharaj and George Linde have managed 5 and 3 wickets respectively.
Markram, Rickelton and Brevis are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada.
NZโs campaign largely depends on their aggressive opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. Seifert scored 216 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 157.66, while Allen added 189 runs at a strike rate of 173.39. The duo has combined for 21 sixes, giving the team strong starts in the power play.
Glenn Phillips will lead the middle-order scoring with 176 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 160. Rachin Ravindra has managed 115 runs, below his usual standards. Mark Chapman has 91 runs in 4 innings, while Daryl Mitchell has struggled with just 63 runs.
Bowling has been a collective effort. Matt Henry and Ravindra have picked up 7 and 9 wickets respectively, while Lockie Ferguson has 5 in 5 matches. Mitchell Santner has only 2 wickets in 5 games, while Glenn Phillips has claimed 3.
Seifert, Allen and Phillips are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
South Africa will start this semi-final as the stronger batting side based on overall consistency. Their top and middle order have contributed runs collectively, which has already helped them recover from difficult situations twice in this tournament. Multiple batters in the lineup maintain high strike rates and attack throughout the innings.
New Zealand will depend heavily on Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. The middle order has struggled to maintain the same scoring momentum when early wickets fall.
South Africaโs Top 6 batters have hit 60 sixes in the tournament compared to New Zealandโs 43, showing better hitting. On a batting-friendly Kolkata surface, South Africa will likely dominate the boundary count and control the overall scoring.
