nz vs sa – Artifex.News https://artifex.news Stay Connected. Stay Informed. Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:45:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://artifex.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cropped-cropped-app-logo-32x32.png nz vs sa – Artifex.News https://artifex.news 32 32 T20 World Cup 2026 preview | Too close to call as New Zealand takes on South Africa https://artifex.news/article70629402-ece/ Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:45:00 +0000 https://artifex.news/article70629402-ece/ Read More “T20 World Cup 2026 preview | Too close to call as New Zealand takes on South Africa” »

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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



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]]> New Zealand World Cup campaign on shaky ground as losses, injuries pile up https://artifex.news/article67488097-ece/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 07:05:16 +0000 https://artifex.news/article67488097-ece/ Read More “New Zealand World Cup campaign on shaky ground as losses, injuries pile up” »

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New Zealand’s Mitch Santner leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and South Africa in Pune, India, on November 1, 2023
| Photo Credit: AP

New Zealand leave Pune sore and sorry after notching up their third World Cup defeat in succession against South Africa and with a mounting injury toll weighing on their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Pace bowler Matt Henry is unlikely to feature in Saturday’s crunch match against Pakistan after injuring his right hamstring in the 190-run thumping by the Proteas on Wednesday.

Kyle Jamieson has been called up from New Zealand as cover for Henry and should arrive with the squad late on Thursday, the team said.

Jimmy Neesham is nursing a bruised right wrist after being struck by the ball while bowling in the first innings.

While an X-ray cleared him of broken bones, selectors may have little choice but to play the all-rounder given injury queries over Mark Chapman (calf) and Kane Williamson (thumb), who were ruled out of the South Africa game.

Paceman Lockie Ferguson, meanwhile, is nursing a right Achilles injury, though he was cleared of significant damage by a scan and selectors hope he will be available for Pakistan.

“It’s sad to see guys get injured but at the same time it gives people other opportunities as well,” all-rounder Daryl Mitchell told reporters.

“We’re a pretty close group and we back each other and we’ve done it for a long period of time now.”

After winning their first four games in a perfect start, the Black Caps have crumbled against India, Australia and the Proteas. They now cling to fourth place in the standings, two points ahead of Pakistan.

The top four reach the semi-finals.

The heavy defeat to South Africa has also seen their run-rate take a major hit and another big loss against Pakistan could see the south Asians leapfrog them into the top four.

Having won the toss against South Africa, captain Tom Latham surprised by electing to field against opponents that often struggle to chase down totals.

Not that Glenn Phillips was questioning the captain’s call after South Africa put 357 for four on the board.

“Obviously South Africa are incredibly strong batting first, but we’ve got an incredibly good bowling line-up and there was no reason that we couldn’t have restricted them to a total that could have been a lot easier to chase on there,” said the middle order batsman.

New Zealand can ill afford to slip up again but are confident their World Cup fate remains in their hands.

Wins in the last two matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka should be enough for the semi-finals.

“We’ve got our own brand and if we stick to it, we know that we’re fighters, we keep coming back time and time again, and when it matters most, we really put the foot down,” said Phillips.



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