Eden Gardens, Kolkata (Source: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
South Africa are set to face New Zealand at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the first semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Wednesday, March 3. This is going to be the first match for both teams at Eden Gardens in the ongoing marquee event.
The Proteas have been in fine form, winning seven games in a row in the tournament. They are the only unbeaten team in the competition. South Africa are one more win away from making back-to-back T20 World Cup finals. They will be playing their first T20I fixture at Eden Gardens.
On the other hand, New Zealand lost to South Africa in the group stage but made it to the Super 8 with wins against Afghanistan, Canada, and the UAE. In the Super 8, they lost to England but defeated Sri Lanka and progressed to the semi-final because they had a better net run rate compared to that of Pakistan.
What is New Zealand’s record at Eden Gardens in T20Is?
| Matches Played | 02 |
| Matches Won | 01 |
| Matches Lost | 01 |
| First-Ever Fixture | March 26, 2016 |
| Most-Recent Fixture | November 21, 2021 |
New Zealand played their first T20I fixture at Eden Gardens on March 26, 2016, during the T20 World Cup. They faced Bangladesh at the picturesque venue. It was a Super 10 clash between the two teams. The Kiwis posted 145/8 on a sluggish wicket, with captain Kane Williamson top-scoring with a 32-ball 42. Colin Munro and Ross Taylor also made useful contributions. In reply, Bangladesh were rolled over for just 70 in 15.4 overs. Grant Elliot and Ish Sodhi bagged three wickets apiece.
New Zealand’s most recent fixture at Eden Gardens was on November 21, 2021. The Men in Blue amassed 184/7 in the first innings, as Rohit Sharma scored a 31-ball 56. New Zealand’s current white-ball captain Mitchell Santner scalped three wickets. In reply, the Black Caps were bowled out for 111 in 17.2 overs. Martin Guptill was the lone warrior for the tourists with the bat as he made 51 off 36 balls.
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