🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: M24: SA vs NZ at Ahmedabad🏏 - Page 4

The shift to Ahmedabad shouldn't be a concern, although dew could play a pivotal role tonight. On the other hand, South Africa have got a hang of the conditions here and have had enough recovery time post the match against Afghanistan. They do have a couple of concerns in their bowling, notably Kagiso Rabada, but South Africa will back their premier pacer to deliver the goods here. It's a night match in Ahmedabad and South Africa should go back to a pace-heavy option. In all likelihood, Corbin Bosch could be back and he should replace George Linde. With their batting firing in Chennai, will New Zealand be tempted at bringing in an extra pace option? If so, Kyle Jamieson could be drafted in place of the all-round skills of James Neesham. Toss and team sheets coming up shortly..

India versus Pakistan. The Ashes. Springboks versus All Blacks.

South Africa versus New Zealand in cricket World Cups isn't in that league of colossal contests, but the fixture comes with a compelling narrative freighted with drama and consequence.

South Africa have won seven of their 13 completed men's World Cup meetings against the Kiwis in both formats, including all four in the T20 version. But New Zealand have won both ODI knockout games - the quarterfinal in Mirpur in 2011 and the semifinal at Eden Park four years later.

Both New Zealand and South Africa are in prime position to qualify for the next stage. But there will be bragging rights at stake, not to mention the potential confidence boost that lies in store, especially against a direct title contender.

New Zealand and South Africa are two nations with a rich sporting history, with a much-publicised rugby match-up not far away. But today, the focus is on cricket. And on Valentine's Day, these two sides will, as Firdose Moonda writes, bring the love to what has now turned into a low-stakes encounter.

New Zealand and South Africa are two nations with a rich sporting history, with a much-publicised rugby match-up not far away. But today, the focus is on cricket. And on Valentine's Day, these two sides will, as Firdose Moonda writes, bring the love to what has now turned into a low-stakes encounter.

At his press conference on Friday, Matt Henry wasn't at liberty to say the match was pretty much a dead rubber: "It's always exciting to play South Africa, and nothing changes in a World Cup. They're always going to be strong in all areas. It's a challenge we look forward to."

What's not to like, Henry said: "We've always got on really well with South African sides. With franchise cricket now, you get to know a lot of the players around the world. I think it's brought the game close together. It's exciting to see guys you haven't seen for a while and catch up. But we know that when we play the game, it's fierce competition."

An iconic moment in the SA-NZ rivalry circa 2015

"Sharing change rooms in franchise cricket, you end up becoming mates with some of the guys," Markram said, and acknowledged the international game "potentially not having that same presence and edge that it used to have back in the day".

"Cricketers are generally the same all over, but I think New Zealanders and South Africans are very similar in terms of who they are from a cricket point of view; how they play the game. And so it doesn't feel hugely different to be in the two environments.

"They're a good bunch of guys on both sides of the coin - hungry to do well, super competitive, and pretty humble characters. So, yeah, that's the same."

Besides the fact that their rugby teams have won, between them, seven of the 10 men's World Cups yet played - the Boks lead that count 4-3 - South Africans and New Zealanders share a certain Southern Hemisphere outlook. They rub along easily in the cultural casualness they have in common. We say braai. They say barbecue. We both say, and drink, beer. And grow, make and wax lyrically about, and drink, wine.

But the Boks are better than the All Blacks, of course.

A high of 33 celsius earlier in the day. 62m and 74m square boundaries while the straight boundary is at 72m. Dew will definitely be a factor, this is the same pitch as the SA-AFG game, it's nice and hard. Pace on will be the key for batters, but the slower ones will grip off the surface and that's exactly what the bowlers will be looking to do. It still looks like a belter and it should be a high-scoring game, reckon Shaun Pollock and Danny Morrison, in their pitch report

South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field