NEW DELHI: Aiden Markram produced a scintillating half-century as South Africa national cricket team brushed aside New Zealand national cricket team by seven wickets to virtually seal a Super 8 berth in the men’s T20 World Cup on Saturday.

Leading from the front in a much-anticipated Group D encounter, Markram’s authoritative 86 took the sting out of the Kiwi attack and ensured South Africa completed the chase with plenty to spare.

New Zealand had earlier rallied through a brisk 74-run partnership between Mark Chapman (48) and Daryl Mitchell (32), lifting them to 175 for seven after being put in to bat.

The Proteas, however, were in no mood to hang about, overhauling the 176-run target in just 17.1 overs for their third straight win — a result that propelled them to the top of Group D.

The contest lived up to expectations as one of the standout clashes of the group stage, with nearly 55,000 spectators packing the stadium despite it not featuring India.

With six points from three outings, South Africa now look firm favourites to progress. They face UAE next, while New Zealand meet Canada in Chennai on Tuesday. Unless there is a major upset, the Black Caps should also advance.

UAE, on two points, remain mathematically alive in the race for the Super 8s, but their chances appear slim.

South Africa, playing their third game at the venue, appeared far more attuned to the conditions — and very little went right for the Black Caps.

Markram set the tempo from the outset, peppering the fence with eight fours and four sixes at a strike rate close to 200.

Quinton de Kock (20 off 14) provided early momentum before falling to Lockie Ferguson, while Ryan Rickelton (21 off 11) maintained the tempo with a lively cameo before departing.

A decisive 40-run burst between Markram and Rickelton carried South Africa past the 100-run mark inside eight overs. Even when Rickelton and Dewald Brevis (21) fell in quick succession, there was little sense of alarm.

Markram effortlessly switched gears, piercing gaps with ease and dispatching anything loose.

He raced to his fifty in just 28 balls, ensuring the required rate never became a concern. David Miller (24 not out) then applied the finishing touches as the pair calmly guided the side home with 17 deliveries to spare.

Miller sealed the win in style, launching a towering six over mid-wicket off Ferguson.

New Zealand began briskly

Earlier, Tim Seifert (13 off 9) set the tone with a six off Marco Jansen, while Finn Allen took on Lungi Ngidi with a towering straight six and a boundary in the same over.

New Zealand raced to 33 before Jansen exploited extra bounce to have Seifert caught behind by de Kock.

Jansen struck again soon after, removing Rachin Ravindra (13), caught by Miller, and then accounted for the dangerous Allen (31 off 17), who miscued to Markram.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj tightened the grip further by dismissing the in-form Glenn Phillips (1), leaving New Zealand struggling at 64 for four inside seven overs.

Though Ngidi (1/34) and Kagiso Rabada (0/27) extracted assistance from the surface, they could not fully capitalise. Ngidi, in particular, occasionally erred in line, allowing the batters to counterattack.

With the innings wobbling, Chapman and Mitchell rebuilt smartly, blending caution with controlled aggression. Chapman struck six fours and two sixes in his 48 off 26 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking with calculated risks.

Mitchell (32 off 24) anchored the stand and even cleared the ropes off Markram when the South African captain tried to break the partnership.

Chapman too took on Markram, swinging the momentum briefly back towards New Zealand.

However, just as a late surge seemed on the cards, Jansen returned to remove Chapman, denying him a half-century with Rickelton taking a neat catch. Mitchell soon followed, falling to Ngidi, and skipper Mitchell Santner was dismissed cheaply by Corbin Bosch, stalling the finish.

Jansen ended as the standout bowler with figures of 4 for 40, while Bosch delivered a tidy spell of 1 for 34, maintaining a disciplined, wicket-to-wicket approach. Maharaj chipped in with 1 for 24.

James Neesham added a quick unbeaten 23 at the death, but it proved insufficient against a clinical South African chase.

(With PTI Inputs)