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South Africa has set a fighting total of 169 in the first semi-final against New Zealand at Eden Gardens. After being put in to bat, the Proteas survived a massive middle-order collapse to give their bowlers a real chance. The match has been full of drama, including a controversial decision that sent captain Aiden Markram back to the pavilion early. It's now down to the South African bowling attack to defend this score and secure their spot in the World Cup final.
Marco Jansen's heroic knock for South Africa
South Africa's innings felt like it was falling apart early on. They lost both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the very second over to Cole McConchie, leaving them stuck at a shaky 12/2. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis tried to steady things with a 43-run stand, but then a huge controversy broke out.
Markram was given out to a Daryl Mitchell catch that looked like it might have touched the grass, and shortly after, David Miller and Brevis followed him back. At 77/5, the unbeaten Proteas were in deep trouble. This is when Marco Jansen stepped up and completely changed the vibe of the game. He didn't just hang around; he played a fearless, counter-attacking knock of 55* from only 30 balls.
Jansen was hitting it clean, returning the pressure to the New Zealand bowlers with five huge sixes. Along with Tristan Stubbs, who chipped in with a vital 29, Jansen helped drag the score from a total disaster to a much better 169/8. He even reached his fifty in just 27 balls with back-to-back sixes, giving the South African fans plenty to cheer about. It was a gritty, high-pressure performance that has turned this into a real contest.
Is 170 a winning score?
Whether 169 is enough to win at Eden Gardens is the big question. Usually, this ground is a batter's paradise where you want 180 or 190 to feel safe, especially since the dew makes the ball slippery and hard for bowlers to grip in the second half. However, the pitch today seems a bit slower and trickier than usual, which might actually help South Africa’s spinners like Keshav Maharaj if they can find some grip.
Can New Zealand chase it?
New Zealand will definitely feel they have the upper hand. New Zealand need 170 runs at a required rate of 8.5 per over, which is very manageable on this outfield. Their openers, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, have already started the chase aggressively. If the Kiwis keep their wickets in hand, the dew will only make it easier for them to find the boundaries later in the evening.
What Eden Gardens history says?
Eden Gardens has a history of big chases. In this very 2026 tournament, India chased down 196 against the West Indies, led by Sanju Samson's 97*. Back in 2018, India also chased down 162 here. Statistically, the team batting second has a slight edge in Kolkata, winning about 60% of recent games. While South Africa has a perfect record against the Kiwis this year, history also shows that New Zealand are 'knockout specialists' who know how to stay calm in these high-pressure chases.
