South Africa’s Markram mauls New Zealand in seven-wicket T20 World Cup win
Al Jazeera
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
South Africa’s Captain Aiden Markram led his team to a dominant seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup, securing their third straight Group D win and putting them on the brink of advancing to the Super Eight stage. Markram’s unbeaten 86, which included four sixes and eight boundaries, was the highest score by a South African captain in tournament history. His innings proved decisive as South Africa chased down New Zealand’s total of 175 with 17 balls remaining.
South Africa chose to bowl first in Ahmedabad, India, and their decision paid off immediately. Marco Jansen took four wickets, including key dismissals of Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, and Finn Allen, who scored 31 but was caught by Jansen. New Zealand’s middle-order partnership between Mark Chapman (48) and Daryl Mitchell (32) briefly steadied the ship, but Jansen again struck to remove Chapman, leaving New Zealand struggling to reach a competitive total.
Chasing 176, South Africa started strong with Markram leading the charge. Despite losing Quinton de Kock early, Markram’s aggressive batting and strategic partnership with Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa cross the 100-run mark in just eight overs. As the required run rate fell, Markram focused on rotating the strike, ensuring steady progress. David Miller’s unbeaten 24 and crucial boundary sealed the win as South Africa reached their target comfortably.
This victory not only showcased South Africa’s strength but also highlighted their ability to adapt strategies during the innings. With this win, they are well-positioned in Group D, with New Zealand suffering their first loss of the campaign. Both teams will next face the United Arab Emirates and Canada respectively, continuing their pursuit of a spot in the Super Eight stage.
This match underscores the competitive nature of the T20 World Cup and South Africa’s emergence as a strong contender. Fans worldwide are eager to see how these teams build on their performances
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/14/2026