New Zealand vs South Africa Live Score Updates, T20 World Cup 2026

TOSS - Righto, it is coming to toss time in Ahmedabad. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Santner are already out in the middle, with the team sheets exchanged.

PITCH REPORT - Danny Morrison reports a hot day with temperatures peaking at 33 degrees Celsius, though it is expected to cool down to around 17 degrees later in the evening. Informs that the square boundaries measure 62 metres on one side and 74 metres on the other, while it is 72 metres down the ground. Shaun Pollock joins him, and he believes dew will definitely be a factor as the night progresses. He observes that the surface has a good grass covering and feels hard when tapped, suggesting plenty of pace and carry. Shaun shares that Afghanistan scored at a strike rate of 148.7 against pace on balls from the Proteas seamers, but that dropped to 102.7 against pace-off deliveries, highlighting how crucial variations will be for the quicks. Ends by saying that this is a belter of a wicket and he expects a high-scoring game.

An update from Kolkata - In a crucial game for England, they have passed their test against Scotland at Eden Gardens. First, they restricted Scotland to a middling total of 152, with every bowler chipping in with wickets, led by Adil Rashid's 3/36. It also saw Jofra Archer get back to form with a couple of early wickets. And in the chase, they did lose both their openers in the first two overs, but a 66-run partnership between Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton saved the day for them, with the latter staying unbeaten on 63. England won by 5 wickets with 10 balls to spare. This puts them in the second spot in Group C, behind West Indies. And this defeat marks Scotland's second in three games. They tried hard, but they just didn't have enough on the board to defend and make the fight out of it.

Form, foes, and fables - South Africa enjoy a spotless record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cups, and the fact that they haven’t met since the 2014 edition is striking. New Zealand do not have happy memories in Ahmedabad, getting bowled out on their third-lowest T20I score of 66 in 2023. South Africa have seen it all here, a win, a loss and even a Super Over in the previous game. They lead 11-7 overall against New Zealand in this format, but just one victory in the last five meetings keeps this clash unpredictable and adds plenty of spice. Both teams, whenever they meet, have produced several classics in all forms, so let's hope this one stays true to that. Toss and teams coming up very shortly. Stay tuned.

Conditions and combinations - South Africa stay put in Ahmedabad, with familiarity on their side as this will be their third game on the trot here. New Zealand arrive from Chennai, trading spin comfort for bounce and carry. Red soil means lift, pace, and shots that travel. And with both teams boasting batting units that send shivers down the spine of bowlers, all capable of scoring free-flowingly, a high-octane run fest seems likely. Seam is expected to dominate, but if the dew stays away, spin could still sneak into the action. Toss could prove decisive under lights, with teams chasing having won just three of the ten T20Is played here.

Cutthroat group? Group D was billed as a maze. Turns out, two teams brought the map. New Zealand and South Africa sit pretty with two wins each, already nudging the Super 8 door open. This is no longer about staying alive. It is about arriving with authority. One more win and the table almost settles itself. Afghanistan were meant to complicate the script, but for now, they are the pause between two dominant narratives. The runners-up of the previous edition, South Africa, now run into the quietly efficient New Zealand at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium. On that note, hello and a warm welcome to our coverage of Match 24 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026.

... MATCH DAY ...

Battle of the heavyweights! Ahmedabad gets ready for a cracker as two heavyweights battle against one another in the final game of Saturday's tripleheader. It is New Zealand taking on South Africa with the winner certifying a spot for itself in the Super Eights. Easy peasy so far - The Kiwis have just eased through so far. Chased down 183 with consummate ease against Afghanistan while made a mockery of the target of 174 against the United Arab Emirates. However, by their own admission, they have conceded a bit more than they would have liked, in both matches. The batting has looked in supreme shape, with Tim Seifert leading the charge. They were in a bit of a strife against the Afghans but rallied out of that one. A tough recent past - It has not been a good few months for the Black Caps. A horrendous 1-4 series loss to the Indians. Coming out victors against West Indies at home, but despite winning 3-1, challenged in every match, being labelled as the closest home series ever for the Kiwis. Prior to that, losing series to England and Australia, both in home conditions. So if we do the math - from October 2025, New Zealand have played 12 completed T20Is prior to the World Cup but won just 4. That may be a reason why their bowling has been under the pump but these two wins, through solid batting would have eased their nerves a bit. They had arranged a tour to India for getting acclimatized to the conditions and despite being beaten black and blue by India, at least, they have started well in this tourney. From New Zealand's point of view, while a win puts them in the Super Eights, a loss need not be too harmful for them. With Afghanistan losing both their opening matches, and Canada and the United Arab Emirates to come after this, the Black Caps would be confident of making it through to the next stage. However, if they make it on the back of three straight wins, it would make them feel a lot happier. The Kiwis move from Chennai to Ahmedabad, which has already seen two high-scoring matches. So the bowling will once again be tested and if the Kiwis are bowling second, the dew could definitely play a part. Home, sweet home - Talking about Ahmedabad, South Africa will find themselves at home. This is their third match of this tournament and all the three at one venue - so they will have a heads up about the conditions as compared to New Zealand. Post the 2025 World Test Championship final, the Proteas believe that they have now shed that dreaded 'C' word. Yes, it did appear for the Ladies in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup but we will stick with the Men for now. They came agonizingly close of lifting the trophy in 2024 and believe that they can go again and do one step better this time. A promising Indian tour - Like the Kiwis, the Proteas too arranged a tour for themselves to Indian shores, albeit a bit earlier than the Black Caps. It started with a stunning 2-0 clean sweep in Tests, to a respectable 1-2 loss in the ODIs, before culminating into a 1-3 defeat in the T20Is. So they too, can argue that they have a fair knowledge about the grounds in India. The 'C' word strikes again! Escape from jail. That's what South Africa would deem their previous match against Afghanistan. They were nearly made to revisit that 'C' word in that clash. The game should have been done in normal time, in the first ball of the 20th over. But as fate would have it, one mistake cost them and it almost took the match away. Glass is half full - However, the opportunist always looks at the water filled in the glass and not with the space left. The fact that they managed to come out of that Afghanistan game, albeit through huffing and puffing, would have given them a lot of confidence. Mental recovery - Recovery in any sport is not just physical. A lot of it is mental and emotional. The Saffas would be happy with the 2 points they got from that Afghanistan game, but they would have been drained to no end. Have they mentally recovered post that thriller on Wednesday? Only time will tell. History beckons Saffas! 4-0. That's the win-loss record for South Africa over New Zealand in Men's T20 World Cups. Durban, Lord's, Bridgetown and Chattogram. But barring that encounter in the inaugural edition, the win margins have been pretty close - 1 run, 13 runs, while the last one, in 2014, being by just 2 runs. So it has been a case of there and thereabouts for the Kiwis. As far as this particular match is concerned, the Team In Green and Yellow have another headstart over the Kiwis. They have picked up 18 wickets in two matches, as opposed to 12 by the Black Caps. Additionally, they have scored more runs as well, but at the cost of double the wickets. They have batted first in both their games, while the Kiwis have chased in their two openers. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - South Africa - WWLWW | New Zealand - WWLWL. Dew on offer? The conditions in Ahmedabad at this time of the year usually dictate teams to bowl first, with dew set to kick in around 3-3.30 pm GMT. A no brainer for the captain to chase, on winning the toss.