It unraveled rapidly for South Africa national cricket team, who were left stunned after suffering a crushing nine-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A side that had navigated its way to the last four faltered badly on March 4, failing in both departments.
After posting 169, South Africa were overwhelmed by New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, who powered their team to victory in just 12.5 overs. The pair attacked relentlessly, finding boundaries at will, while South Africa endured dropped chances and misfortune in the field.
Early setbacks and missed opportunities
Batting first, the Proteas made an uncertain start, losing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the powerplay. Captain Aiden Markram and David Miller were unable to capitalise on reprieves, both departing soon after being dropped. Markram fell to Daryl Mitchell, while Miller’s dismissal came shortly after a missed chance by Glenn Phillips.
A late counterattack from Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs pushed South Africa to a competitive total. Jansen struck an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls to lift the innings past 160.
However, Jansen struggled with the ball, conceding 29 runs in his first two overs. Even when he found edges, luck eluded him as boundaries followed or chances fell short of fielders.
New Zealand’s dominant reply
Allen and Seifert dismantled the bowling from the outset. Seifert blasted 58 from 33 balls as New Zealand raced to 117 inside 10 overs. By the time Kagiso Rabada dismissed Seifert, the contest was virtually settled.
Allen was unstoppable, hammering a 33-ball century and finishing unbeaten on 100. His aggressive strokeplay against both pace and spin sealed New Zealand’s first T20 World Cup final appearance since 2021.
Tactical questions and resilience
Markram’s bowling decisions came under scrutiny. Spin was introduced late, with Keshav Maharaj brought on only after Allen was well set. By then, the opener attacked freely, further tightening New Zealand’s grip.
New Zealand’s path to the semi-final had not been straightforward. They had come close to elimination after a Super 8 loss to England, relying on other results to advance. Yet they displayed composure and belief when it mattered most.
The defeat extended South Africa’s poor record at Eden Gardens. Their last limited-overs win at the venue came against Ireland in the 2011 ODI World Cup, and they also lost both matches there during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
After the match, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra said New Zealand benefited from earlier experiences on slower pitches, which helped them adapt quickly to the conditions.
While New Zealand head to Ahmedabad with renewed confidence, South Africa are left to reflect on another semi-final disappointment — a night when momentum, execution and composure slipped away at a crucial moment.
