New Zealand (173/1) decimate South Africa (169/8) by 9 wickets in a one-sided encounter to reach final of T20 World Cup 2026

[Bhaijaan]

Finn Allen 56 from 20

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Nothing changed.

SA choked as usual.

You can reverse this around and NZ Would have scored 190 and SA would have been bowled out for 150.

This is a rampaging massacre.

Not a lights issue.

Yes so Pakistan would have done better.

 

[Katwalindian]

 

[Bhaijaan]

Nothing changed.

SA choked as usual.

You can reverse this around and NZ Would have scored 190 and SA would have been bowled out for 150.

This is a rampaging massacre.

Not a lights issue.

NZ were never pushovers.

They were the better team from the beginning in this match. SA dint choke. They have been outperformed thoroughly tonight.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Right ..but they did read him well

Because his stock line is playing into their hands when there is no turn.

 

[Katwalindian]

Conditions changing under lights is just brutal. Sympathies with Saffers.

India has suffered multiple times because of the changing conditions.

2014 T20 WC final
2016 Wankhede semis
2021 Dubai
2022 Adelaide
2023 Ahmedabad

off the top of my head.

They just played bad shots...........

 

[ads101]

So sad. Thought it was South Africa’s tournament this one they’d finally get over the line.

South Africa consistently go into tournaments as favourites, put in the work, they excel at all three disciplines batting, bowling and fielding. Generally excellent at all three formats. They do everything they possibly can that is in their control. And yet again and again same story when it comes to tournaments in the knockouts they lose.

You need a bit of luck to win your first World Cup tournament. Winning multiple becomes easier after the first one, as you know you’ve done it before. But if you never win one, you always have that pressure and choking under pressure. And opponents know that too, no matter how good South Africa looks they always know they can choke. Which gives the opposition confidence.

New Zealand are in a similar boat, but they haven’t had the favourites or strength of sides for as long periods of time as South Africa have, and given those shorter periods of strength and lower population, they often can operate with the freedom of being underdogs. Still New Zealand will probably choke too when it matters in the final. It’s also why Australia win time and time again even when they are under strength at times.

Think we underrate just how much luck plays a part in sport in a tournament. Pakistan I feel we are very lucky to have won multiple world cups. We have never dominated for long, never really been favourites for tournaments or had balanced sides in all three disciplines. And yet we’ve won and yet sides like South Africa haven’t. Thats why it kind of makes me feel weird when we rant and complain when we lose a final knowing we went in like 6th favourite into the tournament, and yet there are sides like South Africa out there.

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

SA strike , get first wicket

 

[pillionrider]

Yes so Pakistan would have done better.

If Pakistan came through we wouldn't have seen this destruction. Do you really think Pak openers could've done this. Even in their dreams?

 

[globetrotter]

South african fans asking is there any way to win World Cup without playing knock outs?

 

[GLORY OF '92]

SA we're made to look good by India. Otherwise they are maybe 4th or 5th

 

[jnaveen1980]

I don't think there is any dew yet to be fair lol Evenbefore dew they brutalized them.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You can tell the DJ was waiting to just play Waka Waka for the last hour

 

[Katwalindian]

South africa is back

 

[jnaveen1980]

SA we're made to look good by India. Otherwise they are maybe 4th or 5th

SA got thrashed by India many times before that one off event where Idnai left out Axar. Lost 1-3 in the bilateral

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

SA we're made to look good by India. Otherwise they are maybe 4th or 5th

And what is Pakistan? No. 1?

 

[GLORY OF '92]

If Pakistan came through we wouldn't have seen this destruction. Do you really think Pak openers could've done this. Even in their dreams?

Yes SA are chokers we would destroy them

 

[CricVet]

A little too late Rabada...Anyways...for those who argue that dew this and dew that...no question about it...but a great bowler still finds a way to get a wicket...

 

[Bhaijaan]

Rachin 979/78/78 Ravendra comes on

 

[AAli98]

Already Ind is the worst place to host a tournament add that SA as usual choking in KO match.. worst tournament since the 23 World Cup.

 

[Bhaijaan]

How fa did that bail land land?

 

[GudduBadmash]

Finn Allen in Rakshas Mode

 

[Josh]

SA got thrashed by India many times before that one off event where Idnai left out Axar. Lost 1-3 in the bilateral

Who would have been easier to defeat in Ahmedabad..NZ or SA ?

 

[Ahmed216]

I don't think there is any dew yet to be fair lol Evenbefore dew they brutalized them.

Was a bit sluggish for first 10 overs of SA innings. Since then it's been getting better

 

[DRsohail]

What an unexpected one sided semi

 

[GudduBadmash]

Whenever Allen gets going as sometimes rare as that is, man he is the most dangerous AF batsman on the planet

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Wi or pak would have defeated sa if they had reached semis.

 

[DRsohail]

Who would have been easier to defeat in Ahmedabad..NZ or SA ?

SA

 

[Bhaijaan]

Lowest SR by Captain in a T20WC Knockout match (Min 20 balls)

90.00 - Aiden Markram (18 off 20)*
91.66 - M Jayawardene (33 off 36)
96.42 - Rohit Sharma (27 off 28)
100.00 - Michael Clarke (27 off 27)
105.00 - Mohd Hafeez (42 off 40)

 

[jnaveen1980]

Who would have been easier to defeat in Ahmedabad..NZ or SA ?

Both are tough. BUt SA is tougher as they are used to those conditions more than NZ.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

And what is Pakistan? No. 1?

Did I say that.

 

[pillionrider]

Yes SA are chokers we would destroy them

Talking of destruction, saw what happened to your premier bowlers in the must-win-big game vs SL

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They just played bad shots...........

Don't agree with that completely. Pitch has played better as it got cooler.

 

[Josh]

SA

If it's the same black soil pitch, I doubt that

 

[shah9425]

Amazing innings by seifert

 

[Dr_Bassim]

But

I was never deluded enough to think Pak will become world beaters with or without one or two players

But you are deluded enough to pretend they need to open instead of players like Seifert and Allen.

Imagine NZ opening with Kane Williamson and Latham.

 

[Bhaijaan]

South Africa missed the par score by 80 runs something

 

[pillionrider]

SA we're made to look good by India. Otherwise they are maybe 4th or 5th

And they have made it to the top 4.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Bavuma sounds like he’s reading a graveyard elegy- probably is

 

[Katwalindian]

Don't agree with that completely. Pitch has played better as it got cooler.

Finn Allen happens.........

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Yes so Pakistan would have done better.

Yeah the team that was rescued by Faheem off all people vs Netherlands.

 

[Josh]

Man, Temba can hardly utter a word clean

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Man, Temba can hardly utter a word clean

Just shows maybe captaincy is overrated in Tests

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Man, Temba can hardly utter a word clean

Bahut neeche se awaaz aati hai, time lagega pahunchne mein…

 

[jnaveen1980]

SA bowling is not an all conditionbowling attack. Infact in most conditions they would have lost. Had SA played in Srilankan leg they would have struggled big time.

 

[CricVet]

NZ ending the SF game with 5 overs left against SA is making a statement ... watch out Ind/Eng

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Shukri getting a lesson in humility? Maybe not

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Markram... winning sa20 is different from an icc event. Only vuma did it for them

 

[Cricfan8920]

Bahut neeche se awaaz aati hai, time lagega pahunchne mein…

Horrible voice

 

[jnaveen1980]

NZ ending the SF game with 5 overs left against SA is making a statement ... watch out Ind/Eng

All 4 teams can make the same statement. Nobody is going to under-estimate anyone. ALl the minnows are already weeded out. These are the 4 strong teams.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Did I say that.

Pakistan barely beat Sri Lanka, got smashed by India, lost comfortably to England, nearly lost to the Netherlands

Only teams they beat easily were USA and Namibia

Where is this confidence coming from?

 

[Justcrazy]

New Zealand need 33 runs in 54 balls.

A couple of quick wickets can spice up the game here

 

[prash88]

NZ ending the SF game with 5 overs left against SA is making a statement ... watch out Ind/Eng

NZ's record in finals is pretty poor. Perennial bridesmaids.

 

[dravidthewall]

Can southafrica full this off

 

[Josh]

Just shows maybe captaincy is overrated in Tests

He is a good batsman though

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Pakistan barely beat Sri Lanka, got smashed by India, lost comfortably to England, nearly lost to the Netherlands

Only teams they beat easily were USA and Namibia

Where is this confidence coming from?

Ajkal Namibia and USA ko hara Kar confidence ATA hy.

 

[prash88]

2011 ODI WC India lost to SA and lift the world cup without facing them afterwards.

 

[IAJ]

Good that they are choking now and not in the semi final?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I hope people can stop underrating Finn Allen now. I remember alot of people were talking about how he only dominates Pakistan before the start of the tournament. Safe to say, he has proven his credentials as one of the most destructive T20 openers in the world.

 

[jnaveen1980]

KKR 2026 Full Squad List (Retained & Auctioned)

• Batters: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell.
• All-rounders:Cameron Green, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Rachin Ravindra, Sarthak Ranjan
  .
  • Wicketkeepers: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Tejasvi Singh.
  • 
    
  • 
    
  • Bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Akash Deep, Prashant Solanki, Kartik Tyagi, Mustafizur Rahman, Daksh Kamr

Eden gardens is their home ground. Imagine the fun they will have

 

[Josh]

NZ ending the SF game with 5 overs left against SA is making a statement ... watch out Ind/Eng

I told you, the target is below par

 

[Ahmed216]

But

But you are deluded enough to pretend they need to open instead of players like Seifert and Allen.

Imagine NZ opening with Kane Williamson and Latham.

It was you who pretended that we would win WC without them.
At least with them we made semi final and final of WC.
Something that seems impossible since Mohsin Naqvi fans boys like you got their way.

 

[CricVet]

Pakistan barely beat Sri Lanka, got smashed by India, lost comfortably to England, nearly lost to the Netherlands

Only teams they beat easily were USA and Namibia

Where is this confidence coming from?

How did India beat USA...you are just trolling some

 

[CricVet]

I told you, the target is below par

Did they get a wicket?

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Sa .. better luck next year at home for 50 over world cup. Their best chance

 

[Dr_Bassim]

It was you who pretended that we would win WC without them.
At least with them we made semi final and final of WC.
Something that seems impossible since Mohsin Naqvi fans boys like you got their way.

There is no prize for making the semi final and final.

No one remembers such things except Rizbar fanboys.

 

[Josh]

New Zealand need 33 runs in 54 balls.

A couple of quick wickets can spice up the game here

Ab 5 Wasim Akram bhi aa jayein to itna to bana denge, 9 wickets left

 

[prash88]

2011 ODI WC India lost to SA and lift the world cup without facing them afterwards.

NZ eliminated SA in that same tournament

 

[jnaveen1980]

what happened to Shamsi? has he reitred?

 

[Bhaijaan]

Rachin Ravindra (11) has more wickets than Bumrah, Arshdeep, Archer, Usman Tariq, Henry in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
These wickets have come at an economy of 6.86, better than the likes of Varun, Adil Rashid, Motie, Tariq.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Pakistan and South Africa should be banned from World Tournaments

Chokers

 

[jnaveen1980]

This is a good batting surface.

Massive kudos to Rachin and Santner. Those 8 priceless overs is the difference.

 

[Katwalindian]

Pakistan barely beat Sri Lanka, got smashed by India, lost comfortably to England, nearly lost to the Netherlands

Only teams they beat easily were USA and Namibia

Where is this confidence coming from?

My dream was Ned beating pak

 

[Devadwal]

Mind says it will be a repeat of the 2019 CWC final in this T20 World Cup final.

Heart says we will be playing the final in Ahmedabad.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan and South Africa should be banned from World Tournaments

Chokers

This is not choke lol Their bowling is not good. Let us face. Oppositiion is going to win with overs to spare.

 

[Josh]

Did they get a wicket?

Nah ..had it been 30 more runs ..NZ would have come under pressure

 

[prash88]

Rachin Ravindra (11) has more wickets than Bumrah, Arshdeep, Archer, Usman Tariq, Henry in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
These wickets have come at an economy of 6.86, better than the likes of Varun, Adil Rashid, Motie, Tariq.

He got the most turn of all spinners in SL pitches.

 

[ads101]

Just shows maybe captaincy is overrated in Tests

Always thought captaincy mattered more in limited overs honestly. You have to manage your resources better and on bad over or choice can lose you the game. Think it’s just popular to say everything is harder in tests yet somehow we’ve had very good test batsmen even great and yet never had a single good t20 bat. Remember the miracles Dhoni used to work with with that Indian team 2011 world cup and period around it. Indian bowling was terrible, and he was managing bowlers, setting fields, making up with part timers. Got the absolute most out of that bowling attack, a poor captain would have had that bowling attack thrashed. Things have changed now, India’s bowling attack is much better, but people forget how bad it was and how good Dhoni handled it to get the best out of it.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

76 off 28 - 4 dot balls in the entire innings. This is what T20 batting is all about

 

[GudduBadmash]

If he was not so inconsistent he would be the undisputed GOAT of the T20 format.

There is nobody who hits the ball quite like Finn Allen