 "An unbeaten South Africa start as favourites against New Zealand. AFP")
South Africa and New Zealand go up against each other in the first semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, March 4. Both the teams are yet to win a T20 World Cup and have only played one final each in this event’s history.
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South Africa, the current runners-up, are aiming to go a step better at this edition and are on a roll right now. They have decimated team after team to earn seven straight wins, including one against favourites India, to get into the semifinals.
South Africa vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup semi-final: All you need to know
New Zealand’s best T20 World Cup finish was also as runners-up in the 2021 edition. This edition, they have blown hot and cold. They have already lost two matches at this World Cup including one against South Africa in the group stage.
The Proteas will start as favourites but the balance can tilt towards any side on the given day. The pitch and conditions will play a crucial role in the clash. So, here we take a look at the weather and pitch report for the first semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand.
SA vs NZ: Kolkata weather forecast
The temperature in Kolkata during the evening will be in mid-20s with good playing conditions expected. There is very little chance of rain and we should get the entire match without any interruptions.
SA vs NZ: Eden Gardens pitch report
The average first innings score at the venue in the six T20 World Cup matches so far in the tournament is around 184 and a similar wicket could be expected for the semifinal. Teams batting first have won four out of those six games. But with this being a night match, dew could play a part. Also, it is a possibility that the pitch might have slowed down due to wear and tear throughout the tournament. So, a super high-scoring clash can be easily ruled out and we should get decent balance between bat and ball.