New Zealand vs South Africa Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Aiden Markram’s captain’s knock leads South Africa to 7-wicket win

Oops! Just as Kagiso Rabada was about to load up, he lost the ball from his grasp, and it dribbled down the pitch towards the batter. 'Hit it!' came the cheeky shout from the comms box, courtesy of Ian Smith. Finn Allen picked the ball up and just lobbed it back to the bowler. 'New Zealand, you’re too nice,' quips Smith.

Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra, Hard length, across the batter, Rachin punches it on the up to deep point for a single.

Change of ends for Kagiso Rabada. He conceded just 2 runs in his opening over.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, On a back of a length, on middle, Finn Allen hops and bunts it down the ground with soft hands.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, SIX! Going, going, and gone! Short of a good length, on the bodyline of the batter. Finn Allen picks it up and pulls it aerially towards deep backward square leg. Tristan Stubbs feels he is in the game for the catch, so he times his leap to throw it back in the playing area, but the ball had enough wheels to sail over him.

Marco Jansen to Finn Allen, FOUR! Off the edge! On a back of a length, angling away from the right-hander. Finn Allen gets squared up on the back foot, hanging his bat away from his body. Plays it with soft hands and the ball goes along the ground, beating short third to his left for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Rachin Ravindra, On a fuller length, on middle, Rachin flicks it to the left of mid on for a single to get off the mark.

In walks Rachin Ravindra at number 3. He has an ODI World Cup hundred at this ground and will hope to break his recent string of low scores here.

Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Jansen ruins the party for Seifert. Smart bowling actually, as this is banged in short, over the stumps with extra bounce. Tim Seifert arches back to flat bat that over covers, but only gets a feather of the outside edge. The ball carries behind to Quinton de Kock, who takes a fine catch with a slight leap. An important breakthrough for the Proteas, given the form of Seifert. New Zealand are 33/1.

Marco Jansen has been introduced into the attack, replacing Kagiso Rabada.

Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert, SIX! SMOKED! Marco lands it on a fractionally fuller length, on off, Tim Seifert gets under it properly and clubs it neatly to sail that all the way behind long on for a six.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! Timed to perfection! Ngidi goes full and on middle and leg, tailing in on the pads. Finn Allen gets his head over the ball and flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket for a boundary. A massive over for the Kiwis. 18 runs from it.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, SIX! DISAPPEARED! Lungi goes pace off on a fullish length, around off. Finn Allen gets the ball into his wheelhouse, and with a free-flowing bat swing, he pumps it behind long on for a cracking six.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Nagging length, outside off, Finn Allen thrashes it off the back foot to cover.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Ngidi with a slight appeal for a run out! A slower delivery, full toss, on off, Finn Allen drills it straight down the pitch. Lungi Ngidi extends his right hand on the follow-through as the ball smashes the stumps on the non-striker's end. Ngidi appeals, but with not much conviction. The on-field umpire has sent it upstairs for a check. Three angles for the TV umpire's help. It is confirmed that the ball didn't come in contact with Ngidi's fingers or his right leg. UltraEdge comes up with a flat line. 

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! He is teeing off now! On a back of a length, wide outside off, Finn Allen gets to free his arms and slashes it like a knife over point for another boundary. Two in two for Finn.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, FOUR! Up and over! Too much width by Ngidi, full and outside off, Finn Allen plays with the movement and slices it over backward point for a boundary. 

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Misses the yorker by a yard or so, on middle, Allen gently pushes it to the left of mid on for a quick run.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Angled on the leg stump line, on a good length, Allen looks to whip that over square leg, but gets beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the thigh. There's a bit of verbal exchange between Allen and Rabada.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, BEATEN! Slides one down the leg stump line, on a fullish length. Finn shuffles across to scoop, but misses. The ball passes scarily close to the leg pole on the way to the keeper.

Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen, Absolute ripper! Pitched on a length, around off, nipping away. Finn Allen pokes at it loosely without much footwork and the ball zips past his outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert, Back of a length, over middle, nipping back in. Tim Seifert pulls it off the inner half of the blade to deep backward square leg for a run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert, Rabada is on the money! Slammed hard into the deck, on middle and leg, Tim Seifert gets a bit across and nudges it to the leg side, in front of square.

Kagiso Rabada will steam in from the other end. He had a game to forget against Afghanistan and will be eager to bounce back tonight.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Angled into the batter, on a good length, on leg, Tim Seifert knocks it off the inner half, towards mid on for a run. 7 from the first over.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Swing and a miss! Keeps it outside off, full in length, moving away from the right-hander. Tim Seifert throws the kitchen sink at it, only to get beaten on the outside edge.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, Slower ball, on off, Seifert thrashes it along the ground, but straight to the mid off fielder.

Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen, Into the body, slanted on a length, Finn Allen bunts it in front of mid on for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, EDGED BUT SAFE! Full again, outside off, shaping away late. Tim Seifert pushes at it from the crease, but again gets a thick outside edge. The ball evades the massive wingspan of Marco Jansen to his right and is stopped by Stubbs in the deep with a slide. Just a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert, FOUR! Action and fortune straightaway! Ngidi gets a good bit of outswing on a fuller length, outside off, Tim throws his hands at it to thrash it away to the off side, but gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies well wide of the leaping slip fielder and races away to the deep third fence, beating Stubbs to his left.

We are done with the national anthems, and it is time for the action to get underway. A decent crowd has turned up, and expect more to trickle in. Aiden Markram and his troops make their way out to the centre. They are followed by the two Kiwi openers, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert. Lungi Ngidi will get things going with the new ball. Seifert to face the first ball. A slip in place. Here we go!

The giant flags of the two nations have been unveiled. The match officials lead the way before Aiden Markram and Mitchell Santner lead their charges out, along with the mascots. It will be South Africa's national anthem first, followed by that of New Zealand.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner says it looks like a good wicket, and they would try to put on a huge total on the board and hope that dew doesn't arrive later in the evening. On the preparations for this match, Santner shares it's been good. Says there are no easy games in this tournament and adds that they know how good a side South Africa is. Tells that they have made small improvements from the first game and look forward to taking it further. Wraps up by informing that they are going unchanged.

The captain of South Africa - Aiden Markram says the decision to bowl first is influenced by their previous night game at the venue, where the wicket got better as the match progressed. He hopes they can restrict New Zealand and then take advantage of the conditions while chasing. He mentions there was not a lot of dew in that earlier game, just a bit, and admits it can be somewhat unpredictable. With a cheeky smile, he adds that they certainly won't complain if there is a little more dew around tonight. Markram shares that the clash against Afghanistan was physically and emotionally draining, but the side has regrouped and is ready to put in a strong performance. Informs that they have made one change with Corbin Bosch coming in for George Linde.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch (In for George Linde), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand (Unchanged Playing XI) - Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Jacob Duffy.