ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, 1st Semi-Final: SA vs NZ, weather report, stadium stats and predicted playing XIs

South Africa and New Zealand square off in a high-voltage semifinal at Eden Gardens, with both teams eyeing a decisive performance to book their spot in the T20 World Cup 2026 final.

Gopi Marisetty
Gopi Marisetty

2 mins read
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, 1st Semi-Final
i(x.com/bcci)

Be a winner today!

Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community

iconiconicon

South Africa is scheduled to compete with New Zealand in the 1st Semi-Final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This is a crucial match where two powerful teams will compete with each other to qualify for the finals. 

South Africa have enjoyed an undefeated run so far in the tournament, winning all their matches in the group and Super Eight stages. Despite a mini scare in their last outing, they remain one of the balanced sides in the tournament. New Zealand, under Mitchell Santner, has shown its resilience, despite two defeats in the tournament so far. They will draw confidence from the fact that they are good at performing under pressure and will hope to surprise South Africa.

SA vs NZ: Weather Report

The weather at Kolkata will remain humid and pleasant, with no rain expected to fall. Since it is an evening game, it may feel slightly cool later on. Temperatures should range between 21 and 25°C under mostly clear skies. Overall the players and fans both seem comfortable with the conditions. 

SA vs NZ: Eden Gardens Stats (T20Is)

  • Matches played: 20
  • Average first-innings score: 162
  • Average second-innings score: 140
  • Teams winning batting first: 50%
  • Teams winning bowling first: 40%
  • Highest total: 207/4 (SCO vs ITA)
  • Lowest total: 70/10 (BAN vs NZ)
  • Highest chase: 199/5 (IND vs WI)
  • Lowest total defended: 145/8 (BAN vs NZ)

See Also: IND vs ENG Today Match Prediction – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, 2nd Semi-Final | Who Will Win?

SA vs NZ: Predicted Playing XIs

South Africa (SA):

Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde/Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand (NZ):

Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

Tags:

Follow us on

A cricket lover who enjoys writing about every match, player, and record. With 1+ year of experience in cricket content writing, I love sharing simple and engaging stories from the game. I focus on match recaps, player insights, and exciting cricket moments, making each article easy to read and enjoyable for every fan.

WATCH NOW

Michael Vaughan's hair-cutting video goes viral

9 hrs ago

Watch: Michael Vaughan's hair-cutting video in Mumbai ahead of IND vs ENG Semi-Final in T20 World Cup 2026 goes viral

Virat Kohli

11 hrs ago

Watch: Virat Kohli’s adorable moments with his Baby Boy on London streets goes viral

Scared and tensed Pakistan players return home

1 day ago

Watch: Scared and tensed Pakistan players return home after T20 World Cup 2026 exit  

CRICKET STORIES

It is not my job to announce the winner

Rohit Sharma on being asked if England were rightly awarded the World Cup title in 2019