One innings flipped the 2026 T20 World Cup on its head. Anyone who opened the New Zealand national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team match scorecard on March 4 saw history land in just 33 balls.
Finn Allen’s record hundred sank an unbeaten South Africa and fired the Black Caps into the final.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- New Zealand won by nine wickets with 43 balls to spare at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- Finn Allen hit 100* off 33 balls, the fastest century in men’s T20 World Cup history.
- South Africa’s unbeaten run ended, and the loss kept their World Cup title wait alive.
What did the final scoreboard say?
Our team tracked every over, and the gap was brutal. South Africa posted 169 for 8, then New Zealand chased it in 12.5 overs with barely a stumble.
It was a one-sided knockout from the powerplay onward, as the full NZ vs South Africa match scorecard makes plain.
| Match detail | Result |
| Match | 1st Semi-Final, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date | March 4, 2026 (day/night) |
| South Africa | 169/8 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand | 173/1 (12.5 overs, target 170) |
| Result | New Zealand won by 9 wickets (43 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Finn Allen (100* off 33) |
How did New Zealand’s batting card read?
If you have followed this T20 World Cup, Allen’s gear-change still felt unreal. He and Tim Seifert piled on 117 in 55 balls, and Allen reached three figures with 10 fours and 8 sixes.
Kagiso Rabada removed Seifert, but the New Zealand innings simply accelerated to the line.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Finn Allen (not out) | 100 | 33 | 10 | 8 |
| Tim Seifert | 58 | 33 | 7 | 2 |
| Rachin Ravindra (not out) | 13 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 173/1 | 12.5 ov |
Where did South Africa’s innings stall?
Spinners Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra struck early to set the tone. The Proteas slipped to 77 for 5 on a gripping surface before a late rescue.
Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 55 and a 73-run stand with Tristan Stubbs lifted the South Africa batting card past 160.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
| Marco Jansen (not out) | 55 | 30 | 5 sixes, 2 fours |
| Dewald Brevis | 34 | 27 | c cover b Neesham |
| Tristan Stubbs | 29 | 24 | b Ferguson |
| Aiden Markram | 18 | 20 | c Mitchell b Ravindra |
| Quinton de Kock | 10 | b McConchie | |
| David Miller | 6 | c b Ravindra |
Who led the New Zealand bowling attack?
Spin and seam shared the load, and the squeeze never let up across the New Zealand bowling figures.
- Cole McConchie: 2 for 9 (two strikes inside the powerplay)
- Rachin Ravindra: 2 for 29 (removed Markram and Miller)
- Matt Henry: 2 for 34 (two wickets in the final over)
- Lockie Ferguson: 1 for 29 (bowled Stubbs)
- James Neesham: 1 wicket (dismissed Brevis)
Which records tumbled at Eden Gardens?
Cricket analysts flagged several marks that fell on the night Allen hit the fastest T20 World Cup century.
- Allen’s 33-ball ton beat Chris Gayle’s 47-ball record from 2016 by 14 balls.
- It ranks as the joint third-fastest century in all men’s T20 internationals.
- Marco Jansen conceded 53 runs, the most by a South Africa bowler in a men’s T20 World Cup.
- The opening stand of 117 off 55 balls gutted any South African plan early.
What does this result mean for both teams?
Our analysis suggests the toss and the slower Kolkata pitch shaped everything. New Zealand reached only their second men’s T20 World Cup final, after 2021.
Their dream ended on March 8, when India won the T20 World Cup final by 96 runs in Ahmedabad.
We read box scores the same way in our Pacers vs Cavaliers player stats breakdown.
| Stage | Outcome |
| Semi-final (Mar 4, Kolkata) | New Zealand beat South Africa by 9 wickets |
| Final (Mar 8, Ahmedabad) | India beat New Zealand by 96 runs |
Related Match Coverage
If box scores are your thing, our desk has more player stats breakdowns: