Aiden Markram led from the front and fired South Africa into the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a resounding seven-wicket win over New Zealand. In a high-stakes Group D encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Proteas successfully chased down a target of 176 with seven wickets and 17 balls to spare.
Aiden Markram takes South Africa in T20 World Cup Super 8
Aiden Markram was the undisputed star of the chase, hammering an unbeaten 86 off just 44 balls, a knock punctuated by eight boundaries and four towering sixes.
The chase was set up by a blistering start from the openers, with Quinton de Kock contributing 20 off 14 balls and Ryan Rickelton adding 21 off 11. Although New Zealand’s bowlers, James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, and Rachin Ravindra—managed to claim a wicket each to slow the momentum briefly, Markram found solid support in Dewald Brevis and David Miller. Miller eventually sealed the victory in style, finishing 24 not out to ensure South Africa maintained their perfect record against the Kiwis in T20 World Cup history.
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South Africa’s dominant seven-wicket victory on February 14 didn't just secure their place in the next round, it also extended a remarkable historical streak. By chasing down 176 with ease, the Proteas maintained their perfect record against New Zealand in T20 World Cups, moving to a 5-0 head-to-head advantage in the tournament’s history.
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Marco Jansen breaks New Zealand's back with fiery four-fer
Earlier, New Zealand overcame a rocky start to post a total of 175/7. After being put in to bat on a surface noted for its pace and steep bounce, the Black Caps were initially rattled by a clinical South African attack. Despite aggressive early boundaries from Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, Marco Jansen’s opening spell proved devastating, as he utilized the extra bounce to trigger a collapse that left New Zealand reeling at 64/4 within the first seven overs.
The innings was revived by a calculated 74-run partnership between Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell. Chapman played the role of the aggressor, hammering 48 off 26 balls with six boundaries and two sixes, while Mitchell provided a steady 32 to anchor the recovery. Their counter-attack briefly swung the momentum, but South Africa’s bowlers regained control at the death. Jansen returned to remove Chapman just short of his half-century, finishing with career-best figures of 4/40, while Corbin Bosch and Lungi Ngidi applied further pressure to stall the Kiwis' late-inning charge.
A late cameo from James Neesham, who struck 23* off 15 balls, ensured New Zealand reached a competitive score of 175. However, South Africa’s disciplined bowling—supported by Keshav Maharaj’s 1/24, kept the target within reach. Ultimately, the total proved insufficient as Aiden Markram's blistering 86* led the Proteas to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory, officially securing their place in the Super 8 stage.