• Match: South Africa vs New Zealand( SA vs NZ ), 1st Semi-Final Match, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026
• Date and Time: March 4,  01:30 pm GMT / 07:30 pm BD / 07:00 pm local time
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

South Africa
New Zealand

South Africa ( SA ) is set to face New Zealand( NZ ) in their 1st Semi-Final match during the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. This match is scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, March 4.

South Africa come into this match after a solid five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their previous game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After losing the toss, South Africa were asked to bowl first, and their bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, restricting Zimbabwe to 153 runs in 20 overs. Kwena Maphaka was the standout bowler, taking two wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs. Corbin Bosch also made an impact with two wickets, though he conceded 40 runs. George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, and Anrich Nortje chipped in with a wicket each, while captain Aiden Markram was the only bowler who went wicketless.

The batting lineup then chased down the 154-run target comfortably in 17.5 overs. Dewald Brevis led the charge with a quickfire 42 off just 18 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes. Ryan Rickelton added a valuable 31 from 22 balls, including four sixes. George Linde remained unbeaten on 30, while David Miller contributed 22 runs to help seal the victory.

Meanwhile, New Zealand are coming off a four-wicket defeat to England in their last match. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, New Zealand managed 159 runs in their 20 overs. Glenn Phillips was their top scorer with 39 runs from 28 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Tim Seifert also played a useful knock of 35 from 25 balls with three fours and two sixes. Finn Allen chipped in with 29 runs, while Mark Chapman managed 15.

However, New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to defend the 160-run target, as England chased it down in 19.3 overs. Rachin Ravindra was the most effective bowler, taking three wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Lockie Ferguson picked up one wicket while conceding just 14 runs in two overs. Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips also claimed one wicket each, but Cole McConchie, Ish Sodhi, and captain Mitchell Santner were unable to make breakthroughs with the ball.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.

South Africa: W, W, W, W, W
New Zealand: L, W, NR, W, L

We’re hoping the team wins the toss and chooses to bowl first.

The pitch at Eden Gardens, Kolkata is generally batting-friendly early on, offering true bounce and consistent pace that allows stroke play and high scores, especially in T20 matches. Boundaries come relatively easily thanks to a fast outfield and shorter side boundaries, making first‑innings totals often competitive, typically in the mid‑150s to 180+. As the game progresses, the track can slow slightly, giving spinners an edge in the middle overs, while pace bowlers need to rely on variations to stay effective. Toss-winning teams sometimes prefer to bowl first, particularly under night conditions when dew can make bowling tougher later. Overall, Eden Gardens is a balanced surface, where strong batting in the powerplay and smart spin bowling in the middle overs often determine the match outcome.

Weather conditions at Eden Gardens on March 4 at 07:00 PM local time are expected to be warm and pleasant for cricket. The temperature should be around 26–27°C at the start of the evening, gradually dropping to about 24°C later in the night. Skies are likely to remain mostly clear with only a few clouds, and rain is not expected, which means there should be no weather interruptions during the match. Humidity levels may hover around 60–70%, creating slightly humid conditions for players on the field, while a light breeze could occasionally assist bowlers. Overall, the weather looks stable and favorable for a full, uninterrupted game of cricket.

• Pitch Nature: Eden Gardens usually offers a true batting surface with even bounce, helping stroke-makers play freely once they get set.
• New Ball Impact: Fast bowlers could get a bit of swing early in the powerplay, so the first few overs may be slightly challenging for openers.
• Middle Overs: The pitch tends to settle down quickly, allowing batters to rotate strike and build partnerships.
• Dew Factor: With an evening start, light dew may appear later, which could make chasing slightly easier.
• Par Total: In a high-pressure semi-final, teams will likely aim for 175+ to feel comfortable on this ground.