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New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World Cup Preview & Tips - New Zealand backed for T20 World Cup final spot
- New Zealand have won three of their last four T20's against South Africa
- Rachin Ravindra has taken seven wickets across his last two T20's
- Preview, stats & head to head
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New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra (Getty Images)
New Zealand vs South Africa T20 World Cup Preview & Tips
New Zealand slipped to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of England in their last outing. This left them in Sri Lanka's debt as the already eliminated tournament co-hosts aided the Black Caps taking a semi-final spot via net run rate.
South Africa stormed to the top of their World Cup Super 8's group on the back of three consecutive wins.
- The Proteas have lost three of their last four T20's against New Zealand
- New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra has taken 4/27 and 3/19 in his last two appearances
Head To Head
New Zealand have won four of their last six T20's against South Africa, with the Proteas winning the other six.
New Zealand Form
New Zealand may have lost two of their last four at the World Cup, but they have every chance of securing the trophy at the end of a long and arduous campaign.
Defeats to South Africa and England has seen the Black Caps beaten by eight wickets and 61 runs respectively, but their most recent loss to England was one that could have gone either way. Had it not been for some inspired batting further down the order for the English, New Zealand would have beaten England after posting a solid score and then bowling well.
Against South Africa, the Black Caps will know they are the underdogs, meaning they can arrive and play their natural game. Meanwhile, South Africa could suffer from taking the tag of favourites, with the side desperate to win their first ever World Cup.
I predict that the spinning option of Rachin Ravindra will come up clutch for New Zealand once again. Seven wickets across his last two appearances shows he has become a good wicket-taking option despite the opposition trying to target him for being their part-time spinner.
While New Zealand will have to be very good to win this game, I am backing them to secure a statement win. Three wins in their last four T20's against the Proteas shows they have been on top against their opponents, and I back them to secure a huge win in midweek.
South Africa Form
South Africa are the only perfect team left at the 2026 World Cup, with the side already beating top teams like New Zealand, India and the West Indies.
They took on a tricky test in their last Super 8's match as they battled a Zimbabwe side that beat both Sri Lanka and Australia. Their five-wicket win came via a strong bowling performance as they restricted their opponents to 153/7 before securing the win.
The major worry following that match was both Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock falling for single-figure scores. While this may simply be a fortunately timed blip in two good tournaments for the openers, could their failures have a major impact heading into this one?
While I predict a tight match in which the pair trade blows, I am backing South Africa to slip to their first defeat of the tournament one step before the final. The Proteas have been so good so far, but they have often choked at World Cups, with the nation's wait for the title set to go on.
Verdict
I am backing Rachin Ravindra to take over 1.5 wickets as he helps to spin his team to the World Cup final.
New Zealand
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