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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

Which side will win the 1st Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2026?

  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .
CricVet said:
You are exaggerating things ... probably out of frustration. I am also frustrated of Pak Clowns Board. However, even the selected players due to Nepotism did play England tough...Someone here making it sound like Eng walked all over Pak which is idiotic. England won for one luck/brave inning and congratulations to them.
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Brooks single handedly won the game but England have 7 players who could have won the game single handedly.

NZ has Allen, Seifert, Ravindra, Phillips and few others who can single handedly win games.

Games are won by players who are able to change the shape of the innings.

Which player in Pakistan can single handedly change the innings?

Maybe Fakhar.

And the clowns make him bat at 5 all tournament or not in the team at all.

You are trying to make it look like because England were struggling, we had a chance vs NZ.

NZ had way too many players for Pakistan to ever be in the contest if the game was played.

I cant prove it, obviously.

But law of logic says so.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
People only focused on the results forgettign their soft under belly which was variety in their bowling or lack of it. There is sameness in theri attack. Before the series they lost 1-3 to India.
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yeah I can def see that, ngidi was the only real point of difference with his cutters
but they were nowhere near as lethal today, partly because of the dew factor partly because allen was on the warpath
 
Dr_Bassim said:
Brooks single handedly won the game but England have 7 players who could have won the game single handedly.

NZ has Allen, Seifert, Ravindra, Phillips and few others who can single handedly win games.

Games are won by players who are able to change the shape of the innings.

Which player in Pakistan can single handedly change the innings?

Maybe Fakhar.

And the clowns make him bat at 5 all tournament or not in the team at all.

You are trying to make it look like because England were struggling, we had a chance vs NZ.

NZ had way too many players for Pakistan to ever be in the contest if the game was played.

I cant prove it, obviously.

But law of logic says so.
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This is even more frustration and could have, would have. Pakistan only lost one game where they got completely outplayed by India. The other were won closely or lost in the same fashion.

PAK can be a good T20 side with stability and logic combined. They lack clarity in decision-making on field and proper selection has always been their issue. Sometimes, our criticism be over the top, doesn't matter yfrom ou or I.
 
Sahibzada Farhan is not on the same book as Finn Allen, let alone the same page. Took twice the number of deliveries to reach his 100 when the team needed a massive score.

There is no one in Pakistan who is close to the big hitters in other teams. The system has failed.
 
Corridor of Uncertainty said:
Sahibzada Farhan is not on the same book as Finn Allen, let alone the same page. Took twice the number of deliveries to reach his 100 when the team needed a massive score.

There is no one in Pakistan who is close to the big hitters in other teams. The system has failed.
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He had 4 dot balls in his first 27 balls. That is an alien concept for Farhan. He hits sixes. Also dots up
 
Farhan is quite limited but he needs to open for Pakistan.

He is a touch faster than Rizbar and that's all what we really need.

His dot balls are an issue but if he tries to play like Allen, he will be out every 3rd ball for a single digit score.

They are on different levels of talent.
 
Dr_Bassim said:
Farhan is quite limited but he needs to open for Pakistan.

He is a touch faster than Rizbar and that's all what we really need.

His dot balls are an issue but if he tries to play like Allen, he will be out every 3rd ball for a single digit score.

They are on different levels of talent.
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Gap can be closed in 4-5 years ..if things are planned and executed well. Pakistan has sufficient quality human resources
 
finished work, heading home. Just seen Nz won easily as I expected them do. Kind of glad NZ won they are likeable too and have beaten India many series in India. SA are just pathetic chokers.
 
Mas-LFC said:
finished work, heading home. Just seen Nz won easily as I expected them do. Kind of glad NZ won they are likeable too and have beaten India many series in India. SA are just pathetic chokers.
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lol which series? They lost badly 1-4 to India india chased 200 in 15 overs, 150 in 10 overs against NZ in the series.
 
GudduBadmash said:
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
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Inconsistent? Here's his last 12-13 T20 innings (BBL & this WC)
 

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For those who keep talking about Finn Allen being a good striker but inconsistent, here's his recent T20s scores ..

  • 100 (33)* vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Semi-Final (5 Mar 2026)
  • 29 (19) vs England, T20 World Cup Super 8s (27 Feb 2026)
  • 23 (13) vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup Super 8s (25 Feb 2026)
  • 21 (8) vs Canada, T20 World Cup Group Stage (16 Feb 2026)
  • 31 (17) vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Group Stage (14 Feb 2026)
  • 84 (50)* vs UAE, T20 World Cup Group Stage (10 Feb 2026)
  • 1 (2) vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup Group Stage (7 Feb 2026)
  • 80 (38) vs India, 5th T20I (31 Jan 2026)
  • 36 (22) vs Sydney Sixers, BBL Final (25 Jan 2026)
  • 49 (30) vs Sydney Sixers, BBL Qualifier (20 Jan 2026)
  • 69 (39) vs Melbourne Stars, BBL (17 Jan 2026)
  • 101 (53) vs Melbourne Renegades, BBL (15 Jan 2026)
  • 38 (16) vs Adelaide Strikers, BBL (11 Jan 2026)
 
Finn Allen smashed a breathtaking unbeaten century as New Zealand crushed 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets to book their place in a second Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Set a target of 170 — after Marco Jansen’s explosive 27-ball half-century revived South Africa from 77-5 — Allen produced a brutal 100 not out from just 33 deliveries. His knock, laced with 10 fours and eight sixes, powered New Zealand home with a staggering 43 balls remaining.

Tim Seifert also played a major role, hammering 58 from 33 balls as the Kiwi openers piled on 117 runs in just 55 deliveries for the first wicket. Once Allen shifted gears, the contest was effectively over.

He blasted 42 runs off only 11 balls during a rapid 56-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra, including five successive boundaries off Jansen to seal a dominant victory in emphatic fashion.

South Africa had entered the clash unbeaten in the tournament — including a seven-wicket win over the Black Caps in the group stage — but struggled after being put in to bat.

They slipped to 12-2 in the second over as Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0) fell to back-to-back deliveries. Aiden Markram (18 off 20) and David Miller (6) were both handed lifelines on three but failed to make the most of them.

When Dewald Brevis (34 off 27) lofted a simple catch to Mitchell Santner at cover in the 11th over, South Africa looked in serious trouble. However, Jansen found support from Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24), and the pair steadied the innings before accelerating late.

Their 73-run stand for the sixth wicket helped the Proteas recover from 108-5 to post 169-8. Jansen led the charge with a spirited unbeaten 55 from 30 balls, clearing the ropes five times in the final overs.

Yet the total proved far from competitive. New Zealand’s aggressive start — 84 runs inside the powerplay — ensured there was no way back for South Africa as the chase turned into a one-sided exhibition.
 
Finn Allen is a highly inconsistent player but NZ showed they were justified in backing him. The man can brutalize any bowling attack singlehandedly and what an occasion to do it i.e. a T20 WC Semi Final.
 
David Miller in ICC Tournament

2013 - Lost (Champions Trophy)
2014 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)
2015 - Lost (Worldcup)
2016 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)
2017 - Lost (Champions Trophy)
2019 - Lost (Worldcup)
2021 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)
2022 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)
2023 - Lost (Worldcup)
2024 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)
2025 - Lost (Champions Trophy)
2026 - Lost (T20 Worldcup)*

:kp
 
ads101 said:
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.
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Brilliant post mate deserves potw great cricket analysis made by you keep it up.
 
Savak said:
Finn Allen is a highly inconsistent player but NZ showed they were justified in backing him. The man can brutalize any bowling attack singlehandedly and what an occasion to do it i.e. a T20 WC Semi Final.
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Yeah highly inconsistent his recent scores. You should start following cricket.

  • 100 (33)* vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Semi-Final (5 Mar 2026)
  • 29 (19) vs England, T20 World Cup Super 8s (27 Feb 2026)
  • 23 (13) vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup Super 8s (25 Feb 2026)
  • 21 (8) vs Canada, T20 World Cup Group Stage (16 Feb 2026)
  • 31 (17) vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Group Stage (14 Feb 2026)
  • 84 (50)* vs UAE, T20 World Cup Group Stage (10 Feb 2026)
  • 1 (2) vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup Group Stage (7 Feb 2026)
  • 80 (38) vs India, 5th T20I (31 Jan 2026)
  • 36 (22) vs Sydney Sixers, BBL Final (25 Jan 2026)
  • 49 (30) vs Sydney Sixers, BBL Qualifier (20 Jan 2026)
  • 69 (39) vs Melbourne Stars, BBL (17 Jan 2026)
  • 101 (53) vs Melbourne Renegades, BBL (15 Jan 2026)
  • 38 (16) vs Adelaide Strikers, BBL (11 Jan 2026)
 
Rainbow nation have never won an ICC event unless their lucky charm Bavumas in it :(

Tactical mistake by 🇿🇦 not include Bavuma.....
 
NZ's openers doing what they did today suggests they be at peak in finals . Neesham seems the only piece which does not fit !
 
Aqib_mustafa said:
Brilliant post mate deserves potw great cricket analysis made by you keep it up.
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Good post

Just a point though

New Zealand won the Champions Trophy (50 overs) in 2000 and the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021

However, like South Africa, New Zealand also has not won a T20 or ODI World Cup (been twice in the final - 2015 and 2019) to date.

Yet no one associates the chokers tag with New Zealand!

Is it fair?
 
Jansen conceded 53 runs in 17 balls!!

This is called ‘zamanat zabt Hina’
 
170 was never going to be enough on pitches in India which are flatter or more batting-friendly than those in Sri Lanka.

Must also factor in the dew which makes it harder to grip and spin a wet ball.

Hence India chose to field against the Windies.

New Zealand did the same today
 
AZulfi said:
Good post

Just a point though

New Zealand won the Champions Trophy (50 overs) in 2000 and the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021

However, like South Africa, New Zealand also has not won a T20 or ODI World Cup (been twice in the final - 2015 and 2019) to date.

Yet no one associates the chokers tag with New Zealand!

Is it fair?
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Although England did not actually win the 2019 World Cup. They won it on a flimsy technicality (more boundaries). NZ lost less wickets than England though!


The game was a tie even after the super over
 
GLORY OF '92 said:
Wasted Semi both guaranteed to lose in final. Chokers semi.
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Nope that would be case if someone lime Pakistan made it. Apart from the big 3, NZ and Sa are the only teams to win an icc world trophy this decade. And test championship final is bigger achievement than world t20 anyway .
 
You beat the favourites and arguably the best T20 team (India) and then you play like this in the SF!
 
GLORY OF '92 said:
In a semi we beat both no issues
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Nah. Wouldn't even have made the super 8. Only got in cause they got the easiest group.

Pakistan are not a good team, neither are they a "clutch" team. Both NZ and Sa have won icc world trophy this decade . Pakistan have not.
 
Alan this Alan that...He has basically failed in this WC and did well in the final. There are better T20 players out there. Good job done in the end in good batting conditions. A 300 SR WC feast he would remember for a long time if NZ wins the cup, or else just another inning played by a inconsistent T20 player in a determined, very professional team.
 
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