New Zealand and South Africa face off in the 24th match of Group D at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a clash that’s more about fine-tuning than do-or-die pressure. Both teams have already secured their spots in the Super Eights, making this February 14 showdown at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad a chance to build momentum.
This is New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match, Group D, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The game kicks off on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST (12:30 AM PKT, 19:00 local time). Narendra Modi Stadium, with its massive boundaries and true bounce, hosts the night match under lights, running from 19:00 to 22:20 local time with a 20-minute interval.
Ahmedabad’s pitch is a high-scoring paradise, typically offering even pace and carry that rewards aggressive T20 batting, especially under lights where the new ball swings minimally. Expect scores around 180-200 if the dew factor plays nice, though spinners might grip later if it’s a used surface. Weather looks clear—mostly sunny with temperatures dipping to 22°C at night, low humidity around 40%, and no rain in sight for a full game.
With safe progression from Group D already locked in after tight wins over UAE and Afghanistan, this low-stakes affair lets both sides experiment without fear. New Zealand want to iron out batting inconsistencies before the Super Eights, while South Africa aim to regain batting fluency post their scrappy group phase. It’s a dress rehearsal for bigger battles, where momentum could separate contenders from pretenders in the knockout hunt.
NZ vs SA Match Details
- Match: New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match
- Teams: NZ vs SA
- Date: 14 Feb 2026
- Time: 6:30 PM 1:30 PM GMT / 7:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Catch every boundary without paying via these official free options, perfect for fans in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 24th T20 World Cup match will be live on Willow Cricket.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on these websites, ESPN and Cricbuzz, have live scores.
Probable XIs
New Zealand Probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (capt), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
South Africa Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Recent Form and Momentum
New Zealand have been gritty, sticking to their unchanged XI for recent games and pulling off narrow escapes against UAE and Afghanistan—think chases defended by inches. Their bowling, led by pace, has been clutch, but top-order fireworks from Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra have flickered unevenly. South Africa mirror that resilience, with a settled unit that’s bulldozed weaker sides but stumbled in chases; their momentum stems from Aiden Markram’s steady hand and a bowling attack that’s stifled comebacks. Both enter unbeaten in the group but craving dominance.
Key Talking Points
Will South Africa unleash Corbin Bosch if fit, adding raw pace to their attack? New Zealand might tweak with Ish Sodhi if spin suits the worn pitch. Batting depth is the buzz—NZ’s middle order (Phillips, Mitchell) vs SA’s de Kock firepower. Dew could tilt it toward chasing, and with Super Eights looming, captains Santner and Markram face tests in rotation. Recent classics in Ahmedabad heighten expectations for another thriller.
Head-to-Head
In T20Is, South Africa lead with 20 wins to New Zealand’s 13 across 35 meetings, including two no-results. SA’s edge comes from South African conditions favoring their power hitters. Last five: SA won 3-2, including a 2025 thriller where de Kock’s ton sealed it, NZ’s riposte via Santner’s all-round heroics, and a rain-hit draw. These games often go down to the wire.
New Zealand Team Analysis
New Zealand’s strength lies in balanced bowling—Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson’s express pace, paired with Mitchell Santner’s spin wizardry, have defended totals masterfully. Weaknesses? Top-order collapse risks if Allen or Ravindra fail early. Key players: Finn Allen (explosive opener), Daryl Mitchell (middle-order anchor), and Santner (capt and finisher). Recent form shows resilience, winning low-pressure games, but they need batting consistency.
South Africa Team Analysis
South Africa’s power-packed top order, with Quinton de Kock’s aggression and Aiden Markram’s class, is their superpower, backed by all-round depth. Weak spots include over-reliance on openers and occasional middle-order wobbles. Standouts: de Kock (T20 beast), Markram (steady scorer), and their pace battery for death overs. They’ve looked settled, dominating from ball one in Ahmedabad conditions, though chases expose frailties.
South Africa’s batting suits Ahmedabad’s flat track better, and with de Kock in form, they’ll post 190-plus batting first. New Zealand’s bowlers might keep it close, but SA’s depth edges it. Expect South Africa to win by 15-20 runs, warming up perfectly for Super Eights.