T20 World Cup: Focus on match-ups as Proteas meet Black Caps for a spot in the final

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:28:00 +0000

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada during a training session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 3, 2026.
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak

Semifinals distil tournaments to their essence. At Eden Gardens, they also stir memory. South Africa returns to Kolkata for the first semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup against New Zealand with proof that this ground can bend to visiting will. Last November, the Proteas won a low-scoring Test here by 30 runs, their first in India since 2010. Useful memory, perhaps. Protection, none. T20 offers no shelter.

South Africa arrives unbeaten; New Zealand with familiar composure under pressure. The difference may lie less in invention than in restraint.

Rachin Ravindra’s left-arm spin suited Colombo’s slow turners. Kolkata is unlikely to offer grip as readily. South Africa’s top seven has three left-handers: Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and David Miller. Since mid-2024, they have scored at better than eight an over against left-arm spin in overs seven to 15. So, Ravindra may be a side act here. Captain Mitchell Santner’s angles and subtle changes of pace feel likelier to matter.

The symmetry cuts both ways. A left-heavy batting order invites off-spin. Glenn Phillips could be used early against de Kock, vulnerable in that match-up. Hold Phillips back, though, and he risks confronting the power of right-handers Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen.

The Kiwis have a selection dilemma too. Persist with Cole McConchie’s off-spin, or add seam through Jimmy Neesham/Jacob Duffy, especially with uncertainty over whether Matt Henry will play? The call may hinge on how New Zealand believes the surface will behave under lights.

The closing overs will be decisive. New Zealand has conceded 9.52 per over between overs 15 and 20. South Africa’s boundary percentage in that phase is a modest 16.16, but its dot-ball share under 24, the lowest of all teams, points to a side comfortable accumulating when spectacle fails.

Both teams understand the conditions, having played on varying surfaces in the group stage and Super Eight. The semifinal will turn on who manages them when the margins shrink.

Published – March 03, 2026 08:58 pm IST

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Women’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand win maiden title as South Africa falter in successive final

admin — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 17:34:30 +0000

New Zealand’s Eden Carson, Georgia Plimmer and Molly Penfold celebrate their victory at the end of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup cricket final match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

New Zealand produced a clinical performance in a high-stakes final to beat South Africa by 32 runs and win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday (October 20, 2024).

It turned out to be a historic Sunday for New Zealand cricket as the White Ferns got their hands on the ICC trophy hours after the men recorded their first Test win in India after 36 years.

South Africa, playing their second successive final, sent New Zealand in to bat and the Sophie Devine-led side thrived under pressure to post an above par 158 for five at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Amelia Kerr collected 43 off 38 balls while Brooke Halliday made an impactful 38 off 28 balls to push New Zealand beyond 150 in what has been a low scoring tournament. South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 off 27) took her team to 47 for no loss in the powerplay before New Zealand bowlers were able to stifle the opposition.

South Africa could not keep with the scoring rate and ended with 126 for nine in 20 overs. Kerr starred with her leg-spin as well, ending with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.

It was a remarkable change of fortunes for New Zealand, who had come into the tournament with the baggage of 10 losses in a row. They were the best bowling unit in the competition by a fair distance and on Sunday (October 20, 2024), improved their batting by a few notches. There was no coming back from South Africa after they lost their gutsy leader Wolvaardt in the 10th over. Kerr got the prized wicket as Wolvaardt, in her attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, found Suzie Bates at cover.

When the hero of the semifinal, Anneke Bosch, perished five balls later, the writing was on the wall. South Africa’s untested middle-order could not respond to the pressure put by the New Zealand bowlers.

Brief scores: New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31). South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Amelia Kerra 3/24).

Published – October 20, 2024 11:04 pm IST

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T20 World Cup: Focus on match-ups as Proteas meet Black Caps for a spot in the final

Women’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand win maiden title as South Africa falter in successive final