NZ vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026: Markram, Jansen secure commanding win for South Africa

After surviving a mighty Afghan scare by the barest of margins, South Africa left nothing to chance in its seven-wicket demolition of New Zealand, continuing its unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.

A nearly 55,000-strong weekend crowd roared as skipper Aiden Markram smashed the Kiwi pacers all around the park in the PowerPlay to ignite South Africa’s 176-run pursuit. By the time his opening partner, Quinton de Kock, was undone by Lockie Ferguson’s slower one in the fifth over, the duo had trimmed the target by more than a third.

Markram raised a 19-ball fifty with a six down the ground to get the crowd on its feet and took his team over the line with 17 balls to spare.

It was a near-perfect day for Markram. He had called for more discipline from his bowlers, and they promptly responded. The in-form Lungi Ngidi missed his lines in the PowerPlay, and Finn Allen punished him with three fours and a six in the third over. But the Proteas found another hero in the lanky Marco Jansen, who got the dangerous Tim Seifert to nick behind with a short delivery after the batter had flat-batted him for a six over long-on.

It was a night of instant redemption for Jansen. After Rachin Ravindra scooped him for a six, Jansen shortened his length, and the left-hander edged to a diving David Miller at short third-man. Three deliveries later, Jansen deceived Allen with a slower one to claim his third scalp inside the PowerPlay.

As the Kiwis rebuilt through Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell’s 74-run fifth-wicket stand, Jansen made a crucial incision again. His slower delivery induced a fatal leading edge from Chapman. From there, the Kiwis could only eke out 37 runs in the last six overs and were always falling short.

Published on Feb 14, 2026