Kiwi pacer Duffy has been impressive so far.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
There is little to separate New Zealand and South Africa, on and off the field. With two wins each in the ongoing T20 World Cup, they sit pretty at the top of Group D, with qualification for the next round all but sealed.
The contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Saturday (February 14, 2026) will have little bearing on the standings, with the seedings for the Super Eight stage pre-determined. Both teams have overcome a plucky Afghanistan side — the Kiwis registered a clinical five-wicket win, while the Proteas edged past it via two Super Overs here on Wednesday.
Both nations are also perennial underachievers at ICC white-ball tournaments and have a point to prove.
“I think their approach to cricket is almost similar to the South Africans in the sense of never quite being front-runners but always trying to get in there and be a part of the big and successful teams… A good bunch of guys, good at their skills, and good at what they do. I think because of that, there’s quite a bit of respect between the two teams,” South Africa skipper Aiden Markram said on the eve of the match.
New Zealand hasn’t beaten South Africa at the T20 World Cup in four attempts, two of which were humdingers, with the Kiwis losing by a solitary run in 2009 and by two runs in 2014.
“With rugby and cricket, it’s always those games you want to be a part of, so it’s always exciting to come and play South Africa, and nothing changes in a World Cup,” New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said, explaining the fraught nature of contests between the two teams.
Despite the unmistakable affinity between them, the action is cut-throat, and Markram has called for more discipline from his bowlers, who have leaked 28 extras across two games.
Published – February 13, 2026 09:15 pm IST
