New Zealand convincingly defeated South Africa in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final, with Finn Allen's explosive century leading the charge. South Africa's coach, Shukri Conrad, attributed the loss to a 'walloping' rather than a choke, acknowledging New Zealand's superior performance.
Thursday, 05 Mar 2026 | 2:50 AM MYT Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Semi Final - South Africa v New Zealand - Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India - March 4, 2026 New Zealand 's Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra celebrate after the match REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis KOLKATA, India, March 4 (Reuters) - South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad dismissed suggestions his team 'choked' in their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand , instead describing their nine-wicket defeat as a comprehensive
'walloping' at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The 2024 runners-up entered the match as the only undefeated team in the tournament, having secured seven consecutive victories, including a seven-wicket triumph over New Zealand in an earlier group stage encounter. However, New Zealand turned the tables in dramatic fashion, with Finn Allen delivering an unbeaten century off just 33 balls, leading his team to a resounding nine-wicket victory with more than seven overs to spare. South Africa has a history of falling short in the 50-over World Cup semi-finals, and Conrad anticipated that the 'choker' narrative would inevitably resurface following the loss. Conrad, attempting to maintain a sense of levity, told reporters, 'Tonight was not a choke. I thought it was a bloody walloping.' He then elaborated, using the Afrikaans term 'snotklap', which he explained meant a 'real hiding'. He continued, 'So I think there'll be enough people that are going to be jumping on the bandwagon. But, yeah, we also did so many special things. I'm so proud of all these guys. I don't think many people gave us much of a chance of even getting into a semi-final when we left the shores given our form before that but that's no consolation.' Conrad acknowledged that New Zealand had gained a significant advantage by restricting South Africa's formidable batting lineup to a relatively modest score of 169-8. 'They gave us absolutely nothing, and they really squeezed particularly well. Their spinners were exceptional in those conditions.' He conceded, 'Obviously it would have been a nice toss to win, but that's no excuse. We didn't post anything close to what would have been competitive.'\Player of the match, Finn Allen, attributed New Zealand's victory to their bowlers' performance and lauded his opening partner Tim Seifert, highlighting their crucial 117-run opening partnership. Allen remarked, 'Timmy started off really strongly, and he looked to get on top of their bowlers early, which then made it easy for me to settle into my innings. For me, I just looked to play almost a support role to Tim. If it was in my area, I'd try and hit it for four or six, and if it wasn't, just get a single and get him on strike. He just kept dealing in boundaries, which he's been doing all tournament. He's in incredible form, he's an incredible player.' The comprehensive nature of the defeat highlighted a stark contrast in performance compared to their earlier group stage match, and further fueled discussions about South Africa's persistent struggles in major tournaments. Despite the loss, Conrad's focus remained on recognizing the achievements of his team throughout the tournament, emphasizing the resilience and determination they exhibited in reaching the semi-finals. He acknowledged the outstanding performance of New Zealand, crediting their strategic approach and execution as key factors in their victory. The swift turnaround in New Zealand's performance, from their earlier loss to South Africa, showcased their ability to adapt and capitalize on the conditions, setting the stage for their progression in the tournament. The match served as a reminder of the dynamic nature of T20 cricket, where momentum can shift dramatically and individual brilliance can alter the course of the game. The Eden Gardens venue provided an electric atmosphere, adding to the intensity of the semi-final clash and contributing to the overall spectacle of the World Cup
Cricket T20 World Cup New Zealand South Africa Finn Allen
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