T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand vs South Africa Highlights, Match 24- Stats, Player of the Match & More

Match Overview

South Africa and New Zealand faced off in Match 24 of the T20 World Cup 2026 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. Winning the toss, South Africa skipper Aiden Markram opted to field.

New Zealand openers flew off the blocks quickly, particularly Finn Allen, who struck three fours and a six off Lungi Ngidi in the third over. His partner, Tim Seifert, also showed aggression, launching Marco Jansen for a six over mid-on in the next. But the lanky pacer had the last laugh, having him caught behind for 13 off 9 on the very next ball. Jansen returned to bowl the fifth over and broke New Zealand's back with twin strikes, dismissing Allen and Rachin Ravindra in a space of three balls. Allen hit four fours and two sixes in his cameo (17-ball 31) but failed to capitalise.

Then Keshav Maharaj cleaned up Glenn Phillips immediately after the powerplay before Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman joined hands to bring the innings back on track. Chapman was the aggressor in the fifth wicket stand, scoring 43 of the 74 runs that the duo added in 44 balls, before becoming Jansen's fourth wicket on the night, falling just two runs short of a well-deserved half-century. He hit six fours and two sixes in his 26-ball 48. Mitchell (32 off 24) followed suit, as he was dismissed soon after Chapman's departure, with Ngidi getting the breakthrough. James Neesham hit three boundaries in his unbeaten 15-ball 23 to take New Zealand to 175 for 7.

Chasing a par total in a batting paradise, South Africa knocked off nearly half the target in the powerplay, as they raced to 83 for the loss of Quinton de Kock in the first six overs. de Kock, who was cleaned up by Lockie Ferguson, slammed three boundaries and a six in his 20 off 14, content playing a second fiddle to a rampaging Aiden Markram, whose unbeaten 86 off 44, embellished with eight fours and four sixes, was the highlight of the innings.

Ryan Rickelton (21 off 11), Dewald Brevis (21 off 17) and David Miller (unbeaten 24 off 17), all made small but crucial contributions, with Markram putting on a show at the other end, guiding the Proteas to a dominant seven-wicket win with nearly three overs to spare. For New Zealand, Ferguson, Neesham and Ravindra took a wicket each.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Aiden Markram

What the captains said 

Winning Team Captain, Aiden Markram (South Africa)

"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."

Losing Team Captain, Mitchell Santner (New Zealand)

"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."