T20 World Cup 2026: Markram, Jansen Orchestrate Dominant South African Win Over New Zealand
Ahmedabad: South Africa delivered a commanding performance to cruise past New Zealand by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, bouncing back emphatically after their Super Over struggles against Afghanistan. In front of a packed 55,000-strong crowd, the Proteas showcased the form that nearly brought them T20 World Cup glory last time, with Marco Jansen’s career-best 4 for 40 restricting New Zealand to 175 before captain Aiden Markram’s blistering knock sealed victory with 17 balls remaining, virtually confirming their Super Eights berth.
The Ahmedabad surface lived up to expectations, offering ideal batting conditions for this Group D clash between two fancied sides. However, nothing could have prepared New Zealand for the onslaught Markram unleashed during the PowerPlay. The South African skipper announced his intentions immediately, rising elegantly to caress the second delivery of the innings through cover for four. He followed up with another pristine drive piercing a packed off-side field next ball, before Quinton de Kock capped a 13-run opening over from Matt Henry with a boundary.
What followed was a masterclass in aggressive batting as South Africa dismantled the Kiwi bowling attack. Markram welcomed Lockie Ferguson with a lofted drive sailing over the ropes, and even an outside edge raced away for four more. Mitchell Santner’s decision to introduce Jacob Duffy backfired spectacularly as the bowler was hammered for two sixes and a four, bringing up 50 in just the third over. When de Kock departed for a rapid 14-ball 20, South Africa already had 62 runs banked. The PowerPlay concluded with 83 on the board, leaving them needing barely over a run per ball.
Markram reached his half-century immediately after the PowerPlay, racing to the milestone in just 19 deliveries—the quickest by a South African in T20 World Cup history. The chase thereafter became a formality, with David Miller emphatically sealing the win with a pulled six while his skipper remained unbeaten on 86 off 44 balls.
New Zealand’s total of 175 after being sent in proved woefully inadequate. They fell five runs shy of 180, a mark never successfully chased in eight previous matches at this venue. Yet even that psychological barrier wouldn’t have troubled South Africa on this occasion.
Finn Allen provided early fireworks with 31 off 17 balls, clattering Lungi Ngidi for three fours and a six before repeating the dose against Marco Jansen with another four and six. However, the left-arm quick turned the tables decisively within the PowerPlay. Jansen first trapped Tim Seifert with a well-directed bouncer that induced a top edge, then struck twice more in the PowerPlay’s final over to remove Rachin Ravindra and Allen, leaving New Zealand suddenly vulnerable at 58 for 3.
The struggles continued post-PowerPlay when Glenn Phillips managed only three balls before Keshav Maharaj bowled him, reducing New Zealand to 64 for 4. Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell then staged a recovery, combining for an exceptional 74-run partnership off 44 balls as they refused to consolidate. Chapman led the charge with 48 off 26 deliveries, striking six fours and two sixes, while Mitchell anchored with 32 off 24.
Just as 200 seemed within reach, Markram reintroduced Jansen in the 14th over, a tactical masterstroke as the pacer’s clever slower delivery dismissed Chapman. This triggered another collapse, with New Zealand losing Mitchell as well in a sequence that saw 3 wickets fall for just 7 runs. James Neesham’s unbeaten 23 off 15 balls provided a late flourish to push the total to 175, but it proved nowhere near enough to challenge South Africa.
Brief scores: New Zealand 175/7 in 20 overs (Mark Chapman 48; Marco Jansen 4-40, Kagiso Rabada 0-27) lost to South Africa 178/3 (Aiden Markram 86, David Miller 24; James Neesham 1-15) in 17.1 overs by seven wickets