Jansen, Markram star in statement win for South Africa

After a tense Super Over win against Afghanistan, South Africa delivered a dominant performance to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in front of 55,000 spectators at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. Marco Jansen's career-best 4 for 40 restricted New Zealand to 175. Captain Aiden Markram then powered the chase, effectively sealing the game inside the PowerPlay as South Africa reached the target with 17 balls to spare, all but securing their Super Eight qualification.

On a batting-friendly pitch, Markram set a brutal tone from the outset. He struck two fours off the first two balls from Matt Henry, and Quinton de Kock added another boundary in a 13-run opening over. Markram continued the assault, hitting Lockie Ferguson for a six and a four. Jacob Duffy was plundered for two sixes and a four as South Africa raced to 50 in just the third over. By the time de Kock fell for a 14-ball 20, the score was 62. The PowerPlay ended with South Africa at 83, needing just over a run-a-ball thereafter.

Markram completed a 19-ball half-century—the fastest by a South African in T20 World Cups—immediately after the PowerPlay. The chase proceeded smoothly, with David Miller hitting the winning six. Markram remained unbeaten on 86 from 44 balls.

New Zealand, asked to bat first, posted 175/7—a total that proved insufficient. Finn Allen provided a brisk start with 31 off 17 balls, but Marco Jansen struck three times in the PowerPlay, dismissing Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, and Allen to reduce New Zealand to 58/3.

The slide continued post-PowerPlay as Keshav Maharaj removed Glenn Phillips, leaving New Zealand at 64/4. A recovery came through Mark Chapman (48 off 26) and Daryl Mitchell (32 off 24), who added 74 off 44 balls. However, Jansen returned in the 14th over to dismiss Chapman with a slower ball, triggering a collapse of 3 wickets for 7 runs. A late cameo from James Neesham (23* off 15) pushed the total to 175.

Brief scores: New Zealand 175/7 in 20 overs (Mark Chapman 48; Marco Jansen 4-40) lost to South Africa 178/3 in 17.1 overs (Aiden Markram 86*, David Miller 24*) by seven wickets.