New Zealand defeated South Africa by nine wickets to storm into the T20 World Cup 2026 final. Chasing 170 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the Kiwis made it look one-sided as openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen unleashed a brutal assault. The duo powered New Zealand to 84 runs in the powerplay, tearing apart a Proteas attack that had been in superb form leading up to the semi-final. Relentless and fearless, the Kiwi openers ensured none of South Africa’s plans worked on the night, sealing a dominant victory.






