South Africa vs New Zealand highlights: Finn Allen ton powers New Zealand to final in Kolkata, beat Proteas by 9 wickets

New Zealand are cruising well towards their second final appearance. The Kiwis need less than 20 runs in more than seven overs to spare. Looks like Finn Allen wants to finish the game as early as possible. He has so far smashed two fours and two sixes off Marco Jansen, with the last going out of the ground. Hundred for Allen in the final ball of the game and New Zealand enter final with nine wickets to spare.

OUTTTT!!! Finally, a success for South Africa. Kagiso Rabada bangs back of a length delivery as Tim Seifert goes for the pull. The ball keep low an crashes the middle and leg stump. Rachin Ravindra comes to the crease. The damage is already done. NZ 117/1 (9.2)

Fifty for Tim Seifert and 100 up for New Zealand. South Africa don't have any answer to what is happening. Fifty for Finn Allen too, in 19 balls. Dominance personified. A four and a six in the Keshav Maharaj over. NZ 117/0 (9)

Fin Allen joins the business in the final over of the powerplay. Corbin Bosch bangs short, and Allen welcomes him with a six over backward point. What followed was a four back-to-back boundaries. What a finish to the powerplay by New Zealand. The match is certainly on New Zealand's hand now. NZ 84-0 (6)

There is no stopping Tim Seifert in Kolkata. After been quiet for the first few deliveries, Seifert clobbers Kagiso Rabada for a four and a six as New Zealand continue their carnage. NZ 62-0 (5)

New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup match. Can the Kiwis break the streak? Meanwhile, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are certainly auditioning for opener's role in KKR at the Eden Gardens. Both the Kiwi players have been picked up by the three-time champions during the IPL 2026 auction.

NZ 48-0 (4)

BANGGG!!! If Finn Allen smacked Marco Jansen down the ground for a six, Tim Seifert goes across the line to scoop the 7ft tall bowler for another maximum in the over. Four more from Siefert, this time down the ground on the up. NZ 37/0 (3)

Tidy start from Finn Allen and Tim Seifert in the chase with a few boundaries. The scoreline could have been different had Quinton de Kock held onto a tough chance in the second over bowled by Lungi Ngidi. NZ 19/0 (2)

Brilliant last over for New Zealand by Matt Henry as the pacer take two wickets and gives away just six runs. South Africa finish at 169/8 with New Zealand needing 170 runs to win.

OUTTT!!! Lockie Ferguson cleans up Tristan Stubbs. A few balls later, Marco Jansen goes BANG BANG as he brings up his fifty with two back-to-back sixes. SA 163-6 (19)

This is the over South Africa wanted as Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen clobber 22 runs off James Neesham. After Stubbs entertained the Kolkata crowd with a four and a six, Jansen repeated the same in the final two balls of the over. SA 150/5 (18)

Big over for South Africa at this situation. Marco Jansen clears the front leg for a no-look six against Matt Henry before Tristan Stubbs pulls between deep mid-wicket and long-on for a four. 15 runs come from the over. SA 128/5 (17)

It's been New Zealand so far in this game. South Africa did try to get back into the game, but Rachin Ravindra pulled things for the Kiwis with the wickets of Aiden Markram and Davil Miller while James Neesham got better of Dewald Brevis. With six overs to go, can Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs take the Proteas close to 160?

SA 101/5 (14)

OUTTTT!!! South Africa are in serious trouble now. After being clobbered for 17 runs in his opening over, James Neesham strikes with his first ball of his second over. Dewald Brevis, playing a drive on the up, hits straight to Mitchell Santner at the cover. Brevis walks back for 34, with his lips out. Marco Jansen comes out.

SA 78-5 (10.3)

OUTTTTT!! After Glenn Phillips dropped David Miller earlier in the over, Daryl Mitchell makes no mistake at long on. Rachin Ravindra gets the better of Miller eventually. Meanwhile, all the four South African wickets have fallen to spinners.

RSA 77/4 (10)

OUTTT!!! Big wicket for New Zealand. Rachin Ravindra will be relieved man now. After dropped Aiden Markram on 3, the New Zealand spinner gets better of South African captain, this time caught by Daryl Mitchell at long on. Mitchell dives full stretch at the boundary to take the catch. Looking confused, Mitchell hinted at the umpires to take a look. Markram walks back for 18 .

SA 67-3 (9)

South Africa has played 20 dots in the powerplay today, making them the team with most in the first six overs in the tournament. In their previous encounter against New Zealand, South Africa were 83/1 in the first six overs in Ahmedabad. SA 52-2 (7)

Huge comeback by Dewald Brevis and Aiden Markram after losing two in an over. The duo clobber James Neesham for 17 runs in an over. The Proteas end the powerplay on a high. SA 48/2 (6)

OUTTTT!!!!!! The plan has worked for New Zealand. Mitchell Santner brought off-spinner Cole McConchie in the second over itself and he strikes. Quinton de Kock tries to go for a pull, gets a top edge and Lockie Ferguson takes a simple catch. OUTTT!!! Two in two for McConchie. Ryan Rickelton cuts straight to Finn Allen.

SA 12/2 (1.5)

Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock walk out in the crease to open the batting for South Afirca. Matt Henry will open the attack for New Zealand.

Time for National Anthems. Both New Zealand and South Africa players walk out in the middle along with the match officials. New Zealand to go first, followed by South Africa.

For New Zealand, the Kiwis have got Matt Henry, who came back yesterday. They have also added James Neesham in the playing XI. For South Africa, they have got Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj return to the playing XI.

The wicket looks fresh for today's game. There are a couple of cracks on the wicket, but there will some inconsistence bounce. But as soon as the ball loses its shine, it will become absolute beauty. There will be minimal dew. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has won the toss and opted to bowl first.

For South Africa, captain Aiden Markram is leading the batting charts while Lungi Ngidi starring with the ball with 12 scalps in six games. The likes of David Miller, Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis have stepped up when mattered. Keshav Maharaj has kept things tight in the middle overs while Corbin Bosch has taken 11 wickets quietly. Marco Jansen, with 11 wickets, have also enjoyed a superb tournament so far.

The last game at the Eden Gardens between India and West Indies was a high-scoring affair with more that 390 runs being score. Today's game will be played at the pitch adjacent to the one that hosted the India vs West Indies clash. Notably, the surface looks dry today.

As far as the head-to-head stats are concerned, South Africa hold the edge with 12 wins out of 19 T20Is played against New Zealand. The Kiwis have won seven. In fact, South Africa are unbeaten against New Zealand in the five T20 World Cup matches they have played so far.

New Zealand would be hoping that Matt Henry is available for the game. The Kiwi pacer had flown back home for the birth of their second child. He had joined the side on the eve of the game with Mitchell Santner hoping for Henry's availability. If Henry isn't available, Jacob is likely to play. James Neesham is also in line to replace Cole McConchie.

Probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie/James Neesham, Matt Henry/Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

South Africa are certain to make a few changes to their playing XI. Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, who were rested against Zimbabwe, will be brought back against New Zealand.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand have had a topsy turvy campaign so far. They lost to South Africa in the group stages and won against UAE, Canada and Afghanistan. In the Super 8 stage, New Zealand saw their game against Pakistan washed out but lost to England and won against Sri Lanka. However, it was Pakistan who helped New Zealand qualify for the semifinals after the Men in Green failed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147. Both New Zealand and Pakistan finished on same points in Super 8, with the Kiwis prevailing due to better NRR.

South Africa have been unbeaten in the tournament so far with seven wins on the trot. They defeated UAE, Canada, Afghanistan and New Zealand in the group stages. In the Super 8 stage, South Africa got better of India, Zimbabwe and West Indies.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand in Kolkata.