New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match, Group D, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

South Africa with a dominant win. New Zealand despite the loss too are sitting pretty in this group. Time to end our coverage of this one on that note. Tomorrow we have a triple-header as usual. Do join us for that, in particular one night game which starts at 7pm. You know who's playing who. Bye bye for now.

Aiden Markram | South Africa captain: "Yeah, for sure. I think it's obviously important to acknowledge the fact that we got on the right side of the toss. The ball came on quite nicely there in the second innings. But having said that, the boys still had to put in a massive effort, specifically with the ball, to restrict them to what they did. I thought it was a really good effort. (on NZ's openers and how they fought back) I think that's the key. You've got to try and keep the nerve. Back the skills that you're good at. Ultimately, it comes down to you versus him on the day. And there was a little bit to work with, fortunately, up front. I think the boys used that quite nicely. So, a very dangerous pair, the two of them. Very intimidating as well. But the boys were really solid with their plans tonight. (on Jansen) Yeah, big time. Very different left arm, really, really tall, of course. And bowls different types of deliveries, which is a big strength for him and a big strength for us as well. So, good luck. He's been bowling pretty well. This comp maybe hasn't got the numbers that show or match that. And to take four poles for us tonight and sort of keep breaking partnerships for us throughout the middle there and towards the back-end was really important as well. (on his batting) Yeah, I mean, it's nice. Ultimately, just trying to get the team off to a good start. I think we've got quite a set and experienced batting order. There's a lot of power and it's about managing it through the right phases, I guess. But up front, you seen how teams are taking on the powerplay and we'd be silly not to try that. It's not always going to come off, but when it does come off, at least we feel like we can get ahead of the game."

Mitch Santner | New Zealand captain: "Yeah, well played to South Africa, but I think, you know, I guess wickets in the powerplay is always key, whether you're bowling, obviously. So I think the way they put us under pressure with the ball at the start, we're always kind of one wicket down, you know, too many at each stage, but yeah, I think that partnership between Daryl and Chappie was, you know, got us right back in the game, and then some good death bowling at the end to get us to 170, but yeah, probably a little bit below par, but I think it was a little bit sticky and a little bit spinny, so I think, you know, a better powerplay with the ball we could have been right in it. (how tough is it to adapt to conditions?) Yeah, I mean, it is. I mean, you know, we pride ourselves on that. I think, you know, every team in this competition is going to have to do that, whether it's different grounds in India, I guess Super 8s in Sri Lanka if we're there. So again, you've got to be adapting all the way through and, you know, the communication is key between, you know, batters and bowlers, no doubt. (biggest learning from tonight?) Yeah, I guess, well, put under pressure in the powerplay. There's no doubt about it. Against some very good batters. So I guess it's finding ways to, you know, get in and out of overs, still trying to be aggressive and take wickets because I think, you know, against good teams, you know, the only way to really slow teams down is to take wickets in the powerplay. (great run for you ahead of this tournament) Yeah, I mean, we had a good series against India. We were challenged a lot. And we know how good they are in these conditions. But I guess at any time you can play, you know, India in these conditions leading into a World Cup in the same country. It's obviously a great prep. So, yeah, I mean, we started well, you know, came up against a very good team. We knew that was going to be the case tonight. And then, yeah, I guess, you know, changes again, back to Chennai, 11 o'clock game against a different team. (how to plan for teams you don't play against often?) Yeah, that is a challenge. You know, again, we've played South Africa a lot. Played with and against them a lot. So, again, we've got, you know, a good training day. We'll do a lot of video scouting on Canada. I guess we've seen a couple of games already throughout this tournament. But, you know, there's no easy games in this tournament and we know that's going to be the case in a couple of days against Canada."

Most matches in T20 World Cups vs an opposition without a win
6 Ban vs Aus
6 Ban vs Pak
5 Ban vs Ind
5 NZ vs SA*

Most dismissals as designated WK in T20 WCs
33 Quinton de Kock
32 MS Dhoni
30 Kamran Akmal
27 Denesh Ramdin

Marco Jansen | Player of the Match: "Yeah, obviously we know it's a good wicket and the opening batters especially showed some great intent. So we knew we were going to have make a plan and take wickets upfront. (what worked on this wicket?) I think the slower balls into the wicket worked well and then obviously the yorkers are the wickets. So it was good to see you have to change it up and you have to adapt, I guess. And I think we did that really well. (how do you absorb pressure?) Yeah, bowling in the powerplay and at the death is not easy. And days like today, you just take it as it comes and days that's not your day, you just try and adapt and try and make the best out of it. (all bases covered in this side?) Yeah, I think today the bowlers did really well. Kesh also there in the middle and obviously our seamers also we complemented each other really well. I think with the plans we had was really good and yeah, we executed well. (on new challenges) I think each ground... There's a lot of guys here who have played in the IPL, so there's a lot of knowledge in the group as well. So we just try and take every game as it comes, try and see who we're playing against and then we just take it from there."

22:20 Local Time, 16:50 GMT, 22:20 IST: If anyone had any doubts about South Africa's World Cup credentials, then this win should send a shiver or two down everyone else's spines. This is a hammering of a New Zealand side who were unbeaten coming into this game. First South Africa restricted New Zealand to 175 when 200 is par here. We have seen totals being chased down effortlessly in IPL when Shubman Gill turns into Sir Don Bradman on these pitches. And South Africa didn't break a sweat in chasing this down. Markram started off hittting the ball crisply and they have made short work of this. New Zealand took 3 wickets but those were all consolation. South Africa never allowed their opponents a sniff in the chase. After a nervy Super Over win over Afghanistan in a game which could've gone either way, South Africa assert their dominance with a crushing win tonight. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....