AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Aiden Markram led South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup on Saturday, scoring an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls.
Markram hit four sixes and eight fours, helping his team secure the win with 2.5 overs remaining, chasing down New Zealand’s total of 175.
South Africa finished their innings at 178-3, with left-arm pacer Marco Jansen taking 4 wickets for 40 runs in four overs.
This marked New Zealand’s first loss in the tournament, while South Africa moved closer to the next round with three consecutive wins in Group D.
Full Scorecard – South Africa vs New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup 2026, February 14
South Africa 178/3 (Aiden Markram 86, David Miller 24, James Neesham 1 wicket) beat New Zealand 175/7 (Mark Chapman 48, Daryl Mitchell 32, Marco Jansen 4 wickets) by 7 wickets.
Match Highlights & Key Moments
Over 50,000 spectators, the largest crowd for this World Cup, witnessed South Africa’s convincing win against New Zealand.
Sent in to bat, New Zealand struggled as Jansen dismissed Tim Seifert for 13, followed by Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen within four deliveries. New Zealand fell to 64-4 when Keshav Maharaj bowled Glenn Phillips for just 1.
A 74-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, who scored 48 off 26 balls, helped New Zealand recover. Mitchell added 32 runs off 24 balls. Jansen took out Chapman in the 14th over, and New Zealand lost three wickets in 17 balls, finishing with James Neesham’s 23 not out.
Markram then propelled South Africa with a quick 50 runs in just 19 balls—setting a record for the fastest fifty for South Africa in this tournament and reaching 100 runs in 44 balls.
Other batsmen also contributed, as Markram secured victory with ample time left. New Zealand remains winless against South Africa in T20 World Cups for five matches.
Player of the Match
Marco Jansen received the Player of the Match award for his impressive four-wicket haul.
What This Result Means for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
With six points from three matches, South Africa has advanced to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. New Zealand, on the other hand, must win their final league match to progress.
FAQs – Yesterday’s South Africa vs New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Q1: Who won yesterday’s South Africa vs New Zealand match?
A1: South Africa won the match by 7 wickets against New Zealand on February 14, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
A2: Marco Jansen was named Player of the Match for his four-wicket performance.
Q3: What was the final score of yesterday’s match?
A3: South Africa 178/3 (Aiden Markram 86, David Miller 24); New Zealand 175/7 (Mark Chapman 48, Daryl Mitchell 32, Marco Jansen 4 wickets).
Q4: What’s the next fixture for South Africa and New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
A4: New Zealand will face Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 17. South Africa’s next match is against the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on February 18.
