Ahmedabad, Feb 14 (UNI) Skipper Aiden Markram produced a captain’s knock of the highest class, smashing an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, as South Africa overpowered New Zealand by seven wickets in the 24th Match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Saturday.
Markram set the tone early in the chase of 176. After driving Matt Henry through extra cover in the opening over, he welcomed Lockie Ferguson with a majestic lofted six over extra cover. Boundaries flowed at will – crisp drives, powerful pulls and audacious lofts – as South Africa surged to 50 inside three overs.
He punished Jacob Duffy with back-to-back sixes, including a stunning back-foot punch over long-on, and brought up his half-century in just 19 balls with a straight six off Mitchell Santner, equalling the fastest fifty of the tournament. Even a tough return chance off Ferguson could not halt his momentum.
Quinton de Kock (20) fell to Ferguson’s slower leg-cutter, while Ryan Rickelton (21) and Dewald Brevis (21) played brisk cameos. Brevis thrilled briefly with a flat six off Rachin Ravindra before holing out to long-on.
With the target within reach, Markram continued to pierce gaps with authority. In the 16th over, he flicked Duffy for two and then pulled him to the fence past long-on. David Miller joined the charge, powering Duffy for a boundary over deep mid-wicket before finishing the contest in emphatic fashion. On 17.1 overs, Miller launched Ferguson’s slower short ball high over deep mid-wicket for six, sealing the chase at 178 for 3.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 175 for 7 after being put in to bat. Tim Seifert edged Lungi Ngidi for four off the first ball, setting off a brisk start. Finn Allen counter-attacked with boundaries off Ngidi and Marco Jansen, while Rachin Ravindra added a quick six.
However, Jansen turned the tide with a sharp spell. He removed Seifert with extra bounce, had Ravindra caught at short third and dismissed Allen with a diving catch at mid-off by Markram. Keshav Maharaj bowled Glenn Phillips with a teasing delivery as New Zealand slipped from 57 for 1 to 64 for 4.
Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell rebuilt through aggressive strokeplay. Chapman swept Maharaj for four and six, smashed Kagiso Rabada for consecutive boundaries and drove Corbin Bosch square. Mitchell lofted Markram for a towering six and struck Bosch down the ground as the pair added 74 runs.
Jansen broke the stand with a slower delivery that Chapman spooned to backward point for 48. Lungi Ngidi then removed Mitchell for 32, caught at long-on, while Bosch dismissed Mitchell Santner to reduce New Zealand from 138 for 4 to 145 for 7.
James Neesham provided late impetus. He scooped Jansen fine for four, capitalised on a full toss from Bosch and, in the final over, struck two boundaries- including a straight drive off a missed yorker- to lift New Zealand to 175 for 7.
But the total proved insufficient against a rampant South African batting display led by Markram, whose fearless strokeplay ensured a comprehensive victory and strengthened his side’s position in Group D.
