Had the infamous C-word disappeared after South Africa thwarted Afghanistan in T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final and downed Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. But it seems to have returned all too quickly, leaving them with a new scar to overcome the next time the Proteas enter this stage.
Coming into this game, the Kiwis hadn’t beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup game. Additionally, the Proteas were primed to break their drought of 26 years of not winning an ICC white-ball event, given their flawless campaign and well and truly looking like the team to beat. They had also hammered Kiwis in the group-stage contest and fancied themselves to return to their ‘fortress’ Ahmedabad. By contrast, New Zealand had entered the semi-finals through the back door and only by the virtue of Sri Lanka doing enough to knock Pakistan out. But the Kiwis remained unencumbered by their winless history against the Proteas.
New Zealand finally break their duck against South Africa
The toss certainly played its part but it was also Mitchell Santner’s marshalling of resources and exploitation of tricky conditions to not allow an in-form South African top-order to get set. Although the pitch also definitely wasn’t as belter as it was during the clash between India and the West Indies, the Proteas were also guilty of some unforced dismissals. David Miller, among the most experienced campaigners, threw his wicket away in the same over that he was dropped. As were Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis, both of who started promisingly.
Marco Jansen flexed his big-hitting skills at the death and showed the reward of sticking at the crease. His unbeaten 55 gave South Africa more than a respectable total. But nothing was going to be enough, even the towering Jansen had no answeres amid Tim Seifert’s and Finn Allen’s marauding form. The Kiwis headlined their run-chase with a staggering 84-run powerplay, killing the run-chase then and there. Kagiso Rabada’s castling of Tim Seifert for a swashbuckling 58 followed with no celebration as South Africa only had 53 more runs to defend and their opposition had 65 balls.
Out of those 65 balls, the Black Caps needed only 22 more as Allen broke South Africa piece by piece. The right-hander shattered records by clobbering a 33-ball ton to fire New Zealand into the final. It is a defeat that has stunned South Africa, who had not lost a game in this tournament and sustained a defeat to New Zealand, out of all the oppositions.
It is a pattern that has been following them since 2000 – one of showing immense promise only to suffer a meltdown at the final hurdle. It also goes to show that their loss in T20 World Cup 2024 final will hurt only more.
Also Read: WATCH: Tim Seifert Struck on Face While Wicketkeeping in NZ vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal
