South Africa’s T20 World Cup dream came to an end as they suffered a nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the semi-finals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The Black Caps won the toss and opted to bowl first, sending South Africa out to bat first.

The Proteas, who had impressed throughout the tournament with their balanced squad, were unable to withstand a composed New Zealand chase.

Batting first, South Africa posted a total of 169/8, with notable contributions from their middle order from Dewald Brevis (34), Tristan Stubbs (29) and Marco Jansen (55).

However, early wickets in the innings prevented the team from building the momentum needed to post a truly challenging score.

New Zealand’s bowlers, led by their spinners and incisive pace attack, consistently applied pressure, restricting South Africa’s scoring options.

In response, New Zealand’s top order played with maturity and patience, steadily pacing their chase.

Key partnerships between Tim Seifert (58) and Finn Allen (100) ensured the required runs were accumulated without panic, as the Kiwis comfortably reached the target with seven wickets in hand.

The defeat marks a disappointing end for South Africa, who had looked like strong contenders for the title.

While their campaign showcased moments of brilliance, the semi-final loss underlined the need for sharper execution under high-pressure situations.

New Zealand, on the other hand, advanced to the final, having displayed clinical batting and disciplined bowling when it mattered most.