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South Africa moved to the brink of the T20 World Cup Super Eights on Saturday after a commanding seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
The Proteas maintained their perfect Group D record thanks to a lethal combination of disciplined bowling and aggressive batting, chasing down a target of 176 with nearly three overs to spare.
The win marks their third consecutive victory, all but guaranteeing their progression in the tournament.
The foundation for the win was laid by left-arm speedster Marco Jansen, who tore through the New Zealand top order.
After the Black Caps started cautiously, Jansen struck crucial blows by removing Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, and the dangerous Finn Allen in quick succession.
While Mark Chapman’s resilient 48 and Daryl Mitchell’s 32 helped New Zealand recover from a shaky 64-4 to finish on 175-7, Jansen’s return to the attack late in the innings ensured the Kiwis couldn’t reach a more threatening total, as he finished with standout figures of 4-40.
In response, South Africa effectively decided the game during a ferocious six-over powerplay, where they blazed to 83-1.
Captain Aiden Markram was the architect of the chase, playing a brilliant unbeaten innings of 86 from just 44 deliveries.
Markram reached his half-century in a lightning-fast 19 balls, punishing the New Zealand bowlers with eight fours and four sixes.
Despite losing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton early, Markram remained composed, anchored by a steady partnership with David Miller.
The match reached its climax when Miller struck a massive six to seal the victory with 17 balls remaining.
New Zealand’s frustrations were compounded by missed opportunities, including a dropped catch by Lockie Ferguson when Markram was on 69.
While both sides remain the frontrunners to advance from Group D, this result puts South Africa in a commanding position as they look ahead to the next stage of the World Cup.
