The rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team is known for its competitive spirit and high-quality cricket. Both teams have produced world-class players and intense matches across Test cricket, One Day Internationals, and T20 formats. South Africa, often strong in pace bowling and aggressive batting, faces off against New Zealand, known for disciplined strategy and consistent performances. Their meetings in ICC tournaments and bilateral series often result in thrilling contests, with momentum shifting frequently. Over the years, this rivalry has grown in intensity, offering cricket fans unforgettable moments and closely fought matches.
New Zealand vs South Africa Latest Match
#
Date
Format
Venue
Result & Margin
Scores & Highlights
1
Mar 4, 2026
T20I (WC Semi)
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
NZ won by 9 wkts (43 balls rem.)
SA 169/8 (20) vs NZ 173/1 (12.5); Finn Allen’s blistering 100* (33 balls) – fastest T20 WC ton ever!
2
Feb 14, 2026
T20I (WC Group)
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
SA won by 7 wkts (17.1 ov)
NZ 175/7 (20) vs SA 178/3; Aiden Markram’s classy 86 (44) seals comfy chase.
3
Jul 26, 2025
T20I (Tri-Series Final)
Harare Sports Club, Harare
NZ won by 3 runs
NZ 180/5 (20) vs SA 177/6 (20); Rachin Ravindra 47, Devon Conway 47; heart-stopping finish!
4
Jul 22, 2025
T20I (Tri-Series)
Harare Sports Club, Harare
NZ won by 7 wkts (4.1 ov rem.)
SA 134/8 (20) vs NZ 135/3 (15.5); Clinical chase, NZ’s bowlers strangle middle order.
5
Jul 16, 2025
T20I (Tri-Series)
Harare Sports Club, Harare
NZ won by 21 runs
NZ 173/5 (20) vs SA 152 (18.2); Glenn Phillips fireworks power NZ total.
6
Feb 13-16, 2024
Test (2nd)
Seddon Park, Hamilton
NZ won by 7 wkts
SA 242 & 235 vs NZ 211 & 269/3; Rachin Ravindra’s gritty 81* clinches thriller on Day 4.
7
Feb 4-7, 2024
Test (1st)
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
NZ won by 281 runs
NZ 511 & 179/4d vs SA 162 & 247; Kane Williamson’s double-ton (268) dominates SA collapse.
New Zealand vs South Africa: Head-to-Head Record
Format
Matches Played
New Zealand Won
South Africa Won
Tied/No Result/Drawn
Notes & Edge
Test
49
7
26
0 / 16
SA dominates; NZ improving at home
ODI
74
27
42
0 / 5
SA clear lead; NZ competitive in chases
T20I
~19-20 (recent updates incl. 2026 WC)
8-9 (NZ recent surge)
11-12
0 / 0-1
SA slight edge overall; NZ won key 2025-26 games
Overall (All Formats)
142+
41-42
80
5 / 16 (draws in Tests)
SA has the historical upper hand, but NZ’s form closing the gap!
New Zealand vs South Africa: World Cup Meetings Timeline
#
Date
Tournament
Stage
Venue
Result & Margin
Scores & Key Highlights
1
Feb 29, 1992
ODI World Cup
Group
Various (AUS/NZ)
NZ won by 5 wkts
SA first WC post-readmission; Ian Greatbatch fireworks.
2
Feb 20, 1996
ODI World Cup
Group
Rawalpindi
SA won
Hansie Cronje masterclass seals easy chase.
3
Jun 10, 1999
ODI World Cup
Super Six
Birmingham
SA won convincingly
Herschelle Gibbs leads; Jacques Kallis all-round heroics.
4
Feb 16, 2003
ODI World Cup
Group
Johannesburg
NZ won (rain-affected)
Stephen Fleming’s fiery knock overshadows Gibbs.
5
Sep 19, 2007
T20 World Cup
Group
Durban
SA won by 6 wkts
SA chase dominates early rivalry.
6
Jun 9, 2009
T20 World Cup
Group
Lord’s
SA won by 1 run
Nail-biter; NZ falls agonizingly short.
7
May 6, 2010
T20 World Cup
Group
Bridgetown
SA won by 13 runs
Proteas edge thriller.
8
Mar 24, 2014
T20 World Cup
Group
Chattogram
SA won by 2 runs
Close finish; SA unbeaten streak continues.
9
Feb 14, 2026
T20 World Cup
Group
Ahmedabad (or similar)
SA won by 7 wkts
Aiden Markram masterclass; SA chase 175 comfortably.
10
Mar 4, 2026
T20 World Cup
Semi-Final
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
NZ won by 9 wkts (43 balls rem.)
SA 169/8 vs NZ 173/1; Finn Allen’s record 100* (33 balls)—fastest T20 WC ton ever! NZ ends SA’s dominance.
11
Mar 5, 2025
ICC Champions Trophy
Semi-Final
Lahore
NZ won by 50 runs
NZ 362/6 vs SA 312/9; Massive NZ total powers semi-final upset.
Top Run Scorers in New Zealand vs South Africa Matches
Rank
Player
Team
Matches/Innings
Runs
Average
Highest Score
Notes & Highlights
1
Jacques Kallis
SA
~45-50
~1449+ (ODI dominant)
~40+
111
SA’s all-time boss vs NZ; massive in ODIs + Tests.
2
Stephen Fleming
NZ
~40
~1280-1300
~35-36
134*
NZ’s classic accumulator; strong in ODIs.
3
Kane Williamson
NZ
Recent surge
532+ (all formats recent) + 300+ ICC
High
268 (Test)
Modern king; double-ton in 2024 Test, centuries in 2025 CT.
4
Gary Kirsten
SA
~31
~1180
~43+
103
Steady opener in ODIs.
5
Herschelle Gibbs
SA
~29-43
~1042-1100+
~37
143
Explosive in ODIs + ICC events.
6
AB de Villiers
SA
~25-48
~991-1000+ (ODI) + 270 (T20I)
~60+ ODI
106*
Mr. 360 vs NZ; T20 beast too.
7
Martin Guptill
NZ
Many T20/ODI
424+ (T20) + more
–
101*
T20 WC specialist; high in limited-overs.
8
Hashim Amla
SA
Many
High (Tests/ODIs)
–
–
Consistent accumulator.
9
Rachin Ravindra
NZ
Recent
482+
–
81* (Test)
Rising star; big in 2024 Tests + recent.
10
Rassie van der Dussen
SA
Recent
240+
–
–
Solid in white-ball clashes.
Early Encounters and Test Series (1992–1999)
The first official Test series between New Zealand and South Africa began after South Africa’s return to international cricket in 1991. In the early 1990s, New Zealand hosted South Africa for competitive Test matches. South Africa’s pace attack quickly became a challenge for New Zealand’s batsmen, while New Zealand relied on consistent batting and disciplined bowling. These early contests were crucial for both teams to establish dominance and build international experience. Despite South Africa often holding the upper hand, New Zealand managed to produce some remarkable performances, signaling the start of a balanced rivalry.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
1992
South Africa tour of NZ
Test
New Zealand
First post-apartheid series
1994
Bilateral series
Test
South Africa
Competitive matches
1996
ODI series
ODI
New Zealand
High-scoring games
1999
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
England
Memorable match
Competitive Era and ICC Clashes (2000–2010)
During the early 2000s, the rivalry intensified with both teams producing world-class talent. New Zealand’s reliable batsmen and disciplined bowlers often challenged South Africa’s explosive batting and formidable pace attack. Matches between the two teams in ICC tournaments, including the World Cups, became closely contested. Players like Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori for New Zealand, and Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock for South Africa, defined this era. Their encounters were often decided by small margins, creating tension-filled games and thrilling finishes for fans.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2003
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
South Africa
Close group stage clash
2005
Bilateral series
Test / ODI
New Zealand
Competitive matches
2007
ICC World Cup
ODI
West Indies
South Africa victory
2010
T20 series
T20
South Africa
High-energy games
Modern Era and Balanced Rivalry (2011–2020)
In the 2010s, New Zealand and South Africa continued to produce exciting cricket. Both teams featured skilled players capable of changing the outcome of a match with a single performance. New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, relied on strategic batting and bowling consistency, while South Africa’s strong pace attack and aggressive batsmen made contests intense. Their encounters in bilateral series and ICC tournaments often resulted in closely fought matches. This period also highlighted New Zealand’s growth as a top-tier cricket nation capable of challenging the historically dominant South African side.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2012
Bilateral series
ODI / T20
New Zealand
Close contests
2015
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
Australia / NZ
High-pressure games
2017
T20 series
T20
South Africa
Exciting finishes
2019
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
England
Competitive match
Recent Timeline and Ongoing Rivalry (2021–2025)
In recent years, matches between New Zealand and South Africa have remained highly competitive. Both teams continue to develop talented young players while retaining experienced cricketers, ensuring balanced contests. ICC tournaments and bilateral series frequently showcase strategic gameplay, powerful batting, and disciplined bowling. Momentum in these games can shift rapidly, making them unpredictable and exciting for fans. The ongoing rivalry demonstrates the growth of both teams and highlights why New Zealand vs South Africa remains one of the most intriguing matchups in international cricket today.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2021
T20 World Cup
T20
UAE / Oman
Strategic clash
2022
Bilateral series
ODI / T20
South Africa
Competitive games
2023
ICC tournaments
ODI
Global venues
Close contests
2024
Test / ODI series
All formats
New Zealand
Thrilling matches
2025
Future ICC events
All formats
Various venues
Ongoing rivalry
Conclusion
The rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team has grown into one of cricket’s most competitive matchups. From early post-apartheid Test series to intense ICC tournament encounters, both teams have produced memorable performances, thrilling finishes, and strategic gameplay. South Africa’s aggressive style and New Zealand’s disciplined approach create an exciting contrast that keeps fans engaged. As both nations continue to develop talent and participate in international competitions, this rivalry is expected to remain a highlight of world cricket for many years to come.
