SA vs NZ Live Score

5:25 PM IST First finalist locked in - One step left on the redemption arc for New Zealand, who were knocked out in the group stage in the 2024 edition. Whoever they face in the final, the Kiwis have certainly sounded a warning with a commanding performance tonight by dousing the Proteas fire. It will be either India or England who meet in the second semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, 5th March. The first ball will be bowled at 1.30 pm GMT (7 pm IST), with our build-up beginning well in advance. Until then, take care and goodbye!

5:20 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Finn Allen is the winner of the award for his breathtaking ton. Finn finished unbeaten on 100 runs from 33 balls, with his record-breaking knock including 10 fours and 8 sixes. Allen says it is right up there in his best knocks in cricket so far. On the planning coming to chase, he shares that they just wanted to get into good positions while hitting the ball, and just wanted to put South Africa on the back foot. Also credits the way Seifert started off the blocks, which, in a way, made his job a lot easier to go aggressive from the other end. On adapting to different pitches and being aggressive, Finn adds that it is very important to adapt to the conditions. Puts it down to the importance of training hard to get the feel of the wicket. Shares that the boys played a lot of cricket on the blacksoil pitches in India even before the World Cup, which proved to be good intel. Also underlines the importance of playing that series right before the big tournament. On qualifying for the finale, Allen says you take the positives from the game and celebrate a little, but stresses looking forward to the big finale on Sunday.

5:19 PM IST Powerplay assault - The chase was effectively broken in the Powerplay itself, with Finn Allen and Tim Seifert coming out all guns blazing. Seifert offered a few half chances early on as he rode his luck, but nothing that South Africa could convert. As they say, when it is your day, you cash in, and Seifert did exactly that. With Allen for company, New Zealand raced to 84 in the Powerplay, knocking off nearly half of the target inside the first six overs. From South Africa's perspective, the absence of spin in the Powerplay was a bit surprising, and when Keshav Maharaj was brought on in the 7th over, it was already too late.

5:14 PM IST Kiwis soar into the final - A statement chase from Finn Allen and Co. that has left South Africa shell-shocked. The Kiwis break the hoodoo of never having defeated the Proteas in a T20 World Cup, and what a way to do it. The victory sends them into their second final in the format, with their first appearance coming in 2021. Aiden Markram's side cannot fathom what has hit them. They were the team to beat, and many backed them to go all the way, but their impressive run has come to an abrupt end at the semifinal stage. The wait for a maiden senior men's World Cup title continues for the Rainbow Nation.

5:12 PM IST A recovery that wasn't enough - South Africa had played 5 of their 7 games before this clash in Ahmedabad, where the surfaces were truer for batting. Here in Kolkata, on the night, with the wicket being dry underneath, there was a noticeable slowness to it, and they did not quite adapt the way they should have. After being asked to bat first, the Proteas found themselves in early trouble. A brief recovery followed, but it did not last long as they soon slipped to 77/5. Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen came to the side's rescue with a 73-run stand, but the total of 169 they eventually posted proved to be well short on the night.

5:02 PM IST Proud of the boys, but disappointed - South Africa's skipper, Aiden Markram says New Zealand bowled really well upfront, and with some deliveries stopping in the pitch, it was not an easy wicket to bat. Adds that the regular loss of wickets meant the pressure kept building on South Africa. Markram admits that when someone plays an innings as Finn Allen did, there is not much the opposition can do. He feels getting to 169 was still a good effort, and at the halfway mark, they believed they had a sniff in the game. Aiden says that New Zealand got away in the Powerplay, and he gives massive credit to Allen and Seifert for effectively killing the game as early as they did. Markram tells it is hard to pinpoint exactly where things went wrong, though they expected the wicket to play a little differently. He believes that they could have adapted more quickly to the conditions and maybe taken an old school approach, trying to set things up and then accelerate towards the end. Despite the disappointment, Aiden says he is proud of the group for the cricket they played throughout the tournament. He concludes by saying they will reflect on areas where they can improve as individuals, admitting it is hugely disappointing but stressing that the side will look to come back stronger.