New Zealand won by 9 wickets. South Africa faced New Zealand in the Semi-Final 1 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 2026-03-04, and the result sent ripples through the tournament.

The stakes could not have been higher. A place in the T20 World Cup final was on the line, and both South Africa and New Zealand knew that one bad over, one dropped catch, one moment of brilliance could define their tournament. Semifinal cricket is the cruelest format: weeks of preparation for a single match where everything must go right.

New Zealand produced the goods when it mattered most, overpowering South Africa in a result that shifted the group dynamics. It was a statement victory that announced New Zealand’s intentions in the tournament. South Africa were left to regroup and recalculate their path forward.

Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with a capacity of 68,000, provided a fitting stage for this Semi-Final 1 encounter. The ground has hosted some of cricket’s most memorable moments, and the Kolkata faithful brought the passion and noise that make Indian and Sri Lankan cricket grounds among the most atmospheric in the world.

For fans who caught this match live, the 19:00 IST start time converted to 13:30 GMT for viewers in London, 08:30 EST for the US East Coast, and 00:30 AEDT for Australian fans in Sydney. Check India time for conversions to your local timezone.

This semifinal will be remembered as one of the defining matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The new zealand won by 9 wickets told the story of a contest where margins were fine and pressure was immense. For the winners, a date with destiny in the final. For the losers, the agony of being one match away from glory.

For timezone conversions, check Kolkata time, South Africa time, and New Zealand time.