South Africa will take on New Zealand in the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens. South Africa had a very good tournament. They remain undefeated, winning all three of their group matches and then all their Super 8 matches to reach the semi-finals. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton have been in outstanding form with the bat, and Lungi Ngidi's bowling has been excellent. The African team defeated Zimbabwe by 5 wickets in their last match. Chasing 154, they reached the target in 17.5 overs.

New Zealand, on the other hand, won one match and lost one in the Super 8, with one match abandoned due to rain. Both New Zealand and Pakistan have 3 points, but New Zealand qualified for the semi-finals due to a better run rate. New Zealand lost their previous match to England by four wickets.

Also Read: 'Ye team badla lene aayi hai...' - Fans react as South Africa stay unbeaten with 5 wicket win vs Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup 2026

SA vs NZ Match Details

• Match: South Africa vs New Zealand, 1st Semi-Final

• Date: 4th March 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM IST

• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

SA vs NZ Weather Report

Pitch Report - Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Eden Gardens has a flat surface and deep boundaries that balance out the game between the bat and the ball. The flat wicket allows batsmen to play on the up.

• Win Batting First: 50%

• Win Bowling First: 50%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 164

• Average 2nd Innings: 141

SA vs NZ Recent Form

SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Record (T20I)

• NZ Wins - 7

• SA Wins - 12

Top Batters to Watch – SA vs NZ

• Aiden Markram (SA): 268 runs in this tournament 

• Ryan Rickelton (SA): 228 runs in this tournament 

• Tim Seifert (NZ): 216 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – SA vs NZ

• Corbin Bosch (SA): 11 wickets in this tournament 

• Lungi Ngidi (SA): 12 wickets in this tournament 

• Marco Jansen (SA): 11 wickets in this tournament 

SA vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If NZ bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–60

• Predicted Total: 170–175

• Match Result: SA to win

Scenario 2: If SA bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–65

• Predicted Total: 175–190

• Match Result: SA to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

SA vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand 

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

South Africa 

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

Why South Africa is the favourite

• In-form top-order

• Excellent pace attack

• Lungi Ngidi's recent form

SA vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, South Africa are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi and Aiden Markram are expected to be the key performers.

Winning chances

SA: 55%

NZ: 45%

SA vs NZ Match FAQs

Q1. Where can I watch the SA vs NZ live match?

You can watch the live streaming on the JioHotstar 

Q2. Who will win today’s SA vs NZ match?

According to our today's match prediction, South Africa are the favourites to win this encounter.

Q3. What time will the SA vs NZ match start?

The match begins at 7:00 PM IST