South Africa vs New Zealand, 1st Semi-Final Match Summary

First finalist locked in - One step left on the redemption arc for New Zealand, who were knocked out in the group stage in the 2024 edition. Whoever they face in the final, the Kiwis have certainly sounded a warning with a commanding performance tonight by dousing the Proteas fire. It will be either India or England who meet in the second semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, 5th March. The first ball will be bowled at 1.30 pm GMT (7 pm IST), with our build-up beginning well in advance. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Not played the perfect game yet - The skipper of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner calls it a satisfying performance, especially against a side as strong as South Africa, and in a crunch game like the semifinal. He feels every defeat brings lessons, and today was about applying those learnings by sustaining pressure throughout. Consistent wickets, he notes, make life tough for the batting side, and that was the key. On using McConchie in the powerplay, Santner reveals there was a clear plan for the first two overs before things opened up. With Brevis at the crease, he details, they anticipated he would enjoy spin and believed turning it away from him would be the smarter option. Speaking about Tim Seifert and Finn Allen's batting, Santner says it was special to watch. Shares that New Zealand were content with 170 at the break, though he acknowledges that in T20 cricket, nothing is guaranteed. Mentions that early wickets in the powerplay could have made it tricky, but says that the pair counterattacked brilliantly. He singles out Finn’s 33-ball hundred as an extraordinary effort. As for calling it a perfect game, Santner is a bit cautious. Adds that different venues and conditions, including variations in soil, bring new challenges. He believes that they have not yet played the perfect game and have been good in patches.

Proud of the boys, but disappointed - South Africa's skipper, Aiden Markram says New Zealand bowled really well upfront, and with some deliveries stopping in the pitch, it was not an easy wicket to bat. Adds that the regular loss of wickets meant the pressure kept building on South Africa. Markram admits that when someone plays an innings as Finn Allen did, there is not much the opposition can do. He feels getting to 169 was still a good effort, and at the halfway mark, they believed they had a sniff in the game. Aiden says that New Zealand got away in the Powerplay, and he gives massive credit to Allen and Seifert for effectively killing the game as early as they did. Markram tells it is hard to pinpoint exactly where things went wrong, though they expected the wicket to play a little differently. He believes that they could have adapted more quickly to the conditions and maybe taken an old school approach, trying to set things up and then accelerate towards the end. Despite the disappointment, Aiden says he is proud of the group for the cricket they played throughout the tournament. He concludes by saying they will reflect on areas where they can improve as individuals, admitting it is hugely disappointing but stressing that the side will look to come back stronger.

Time to hear from the captains...

A recovery that wasn't enough - South Africa had played 5 of their 7 games before this clash in Ahmedabad, where the surfaces were truer for batting. Here in Kolkata, on the night, with the wicket being dry underneath, there was a noticeable slowness to it, and they did not quite adapt the way they should have. After being asked to bat first, the Proteas found themselves in early trouble. A brief recovery followed, but it did not last long as they soon slipped to 77/5. Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen came to the side's rescue with a 73-run stand, but the total of 169 they eventually posted proved to be well short on the night.

Allen's night of carnage - The 117-run opening stand was eventually broken, but by then the writing was already on the wall. Allen, who first brought up the joint-fastest fifty at this World Cup in just 19 balls, went into another gear thereafter. He raced from 50 to 100 in just 14 balls to bring up the fastest century in Men's T20 World Cup history in 33 balls, breaking the record of Chris Gayle, who reached the landmark in 47 balls against England during the 2016 edition.

Powerplay assault - The chase was effectively broken in the Powerplay itself, with Finn Allen and Tim Seifert coming out all guns blazing. Seifert offered a few half chances early on as he rode his luck, but nothing that South Africa could convert. As they say, when it is your day, you cash in, and Seifert did exactly that. With Allen for company, New Zealand raced to 84 in the Powerplay, knocking off nearly half of the target inside the first six overs. From South Africa's perspective, the absence of spin in the Powerplay was a bit surprising, and when Keshav Maharaj was brought on in the 7th over, it was already too late.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Finn Allen is the winner of the award for his breathtaking ton. Finn finished unbeaten on 100 runs from 33 balls, with his record-breaking knock including 10 fours and 8 sixes. Allen says it is right up there in his best knocks in cricket so far. On the planning coming to chase, he shares that they just wanted to get into good positions while hitting the ball, and just wanted to put South Africa on the back foot. Also credits the way Seifert started off the blocks, which, in a way, made his job a lot easier to go aggressive from the other end. On adapting to different pitches and being aggressive, Finn adds that it is very important to adapt to the conditions. Puts it down to the importance of training hard to get the feel of the wicket. Shares that the boys played a lot of cricket on the blacksoil pitches in India even before the World Cup, which proved to be good intel. Also underlines the importance of playing that series right before the big tournament. On qualifying for the finale, Allen says you take the positives from the game and celebrate a little, but stresses looking forward to the big finale on Sunday.

Kiwis soar into the final - A statement chase from Finn Allen and Co. that has left South Africa shell-shocked. The Kiwis break the hoodoo of never having defeated the Proteas in a T20 World Cup, and what a way to do it. The victory sends them into their second final in the format, with their first appearance coming in 2021. Aiden Markram's side cannot fathom what has hit them. They were the team to beat, and many backed them to go all the way, but their impressive run has come to an abrupt end at the semifinal stage. The wait for a maiden senior men's World Cup title continues for the Rainbow Nation.

FOUR! HUNDRED FOR FINN ALLEN! Off just 33 balls. South Africa are left absolutely stunned at the Eden Gardens by what Allen has produced tonight. Simply outstanding. As per the on-air commentator, Aaron Finch, this is the fastest T20 World Cup century by any batter. Coming to the delivery, it is a full ball from Jansen, outside the off stump. Finn Allen stays put and blasts it over the mid off fielder for a boundary to finish things off in style and authority. NEW ZEALAND QUALIFY FOR THE GRAND FINALE! They win by 9 wickets and 43 balls to spare.

Looks like we have lost the ball. The umpires have asked for a replacement. The fourth umpire is out with the box of balls.

SIX! He has got an answer for everything, has Allen. He goes to 96 off just 32 balls. A real slot ball, on the stumps, Finn Allen clears the front leg and butchers it over the long on fence for a cracking six. SCORES ARE LEVEL!

SIX! That has been deposited into the Hooghly River. Short from Jansen, on the bodyline, Finn Allen stands tall and authoritatively nails the pull shot miles into the crowd behind deep mid-wicket for an enormous six.

FOUR MORE! Jansen goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on the pads. Allen hangs low to swat it away. One hand comes off the bat handle but he manages to get it away to the right of deep square leg for a boundary. 13 more needed for the Kiwis.

Aiden Markram walks up to Marco Jansen to have a chat. But the game is gone way out of South Africa's reach now.

FOUR! Cheeky! Full and across the right-hander. Allen walks across the stumps and gets low to get under the ball. He uses the pace on the ball and scoops it towards deep fine leg for a four.

On off, on a nagging length. Finn hits it to long off and retains the strike with a single. 21 more needed for New Zealand.

SIX! Hit flat but wide enough! Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Finn is quick to pick up the length. He goes back in the crease and just jabs at it. Hits it away from Marco Jansen at long on to his right for a six.

FOUR! Gets it away! Sliding into the pads from around the wicket, on a length. Allen goes deep in the crease and nurdles it behind square leg. The fine leg is up inside the circle and the ball skips across the practice pitches to find the fence.

Shorter and outside off, Rachin hits it along the ground to long off for a run.

Across again, on a good length, Ravindra punches it back to the bowler.

At the stumps, on a length, Rachin jabs it to mid-wicket, where the fielder dives to his right to prevent the single.

Finn Allen is down on the ground. The physio is out there for medical help. Looks like a cramp on his right leg. He is being helped with a few stretching exercises now, while Rachin Ravindra helps himself with a few sips of water. Allen is back on his feet and is ready to continue. After 11 overs, New Zealand are 137/1. South Africa at the same stage, were 80/5. Keshav Maharaj (2-0-21-0) is back on, replacing Kagiso Rabada.

SIX! BANG! Bosch bends his back and digs it in short, over middle. Allen stays leg side of the ball and stands tall to pull it over deep mid-wicket. Not quite from the middle of the blade but more than enough to clear the fence. Allen hobbles after completing the shot. Rachin calls for the physio for his partner. New Zealand need 33 more runs.

Across off, on a good length, swatted towards wide mid on for a run.

Short of a length, on top of off. Allen has a heave across the line. Mistimes it off the inner half to deep square leg. He limps a bit as he crosses over.

A hint of seam movement away from the batter, on a good length. Rachin taps it in front of mid off and takes a quick single.

On middle and leg, on a good length, Ravindra punches it with a straight bat to mid on.

FOUR! Lovely wristwork! Honing in at the stumps, on a length. Ravindra brings his wrists into play and works it to the left of the diving mid on fielder for a boundary.

On a back of a length, on the leg stump line. Rachin stands tall and pulls it to the right of deep backward square leg for an easy run. New Zealand are 124/1 at the halfway stage, needing just 46 runs to win.