South Africa captain Aiden Markram, left, with New Zealand captain Mitchel Santner. (AP photo) KOLKATA: And then there were four. After 52 matches in almost a month, four teams will compete for the coveted T20 World Cup. As the two usual suspects – South Africa and New Zealand, who share a healthy sporting rivalry – meet in the first knockout match at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, there appears to be little to differentiate them.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!These are the two most evenly matched sides in this World Cup, but arguably South Africa, who have won the Test World Cup but are yet to take part in a white-ball World Cup, enter the game as the favourites.“We will probably start as favorites because we are the only unbeaten team,” South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said. “I don’t know if it will add to the pressure. Semi-finals are enough pressure. I’m glad we’re favourites.”
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What really impressed South Africa was that they played as a team, with different players stepping up to be counted at different times. Even after losing Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis early on, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen finished things off for them. Conrad said: “There’s a calmness in the side, especially in the batting line-up. Whatever the situation, someone will find a way.”SA seems to believe that taking wickets is the best way to limit runs. Along with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi made a difference with his variation of pace. “We may not have left the shores of South Africa with a mystery spinner, but we have a mystery seamer in Lungi Ngidi. Boshy (Corbin Bosch) did exceptionally well to nail his yorkers at the death,” Conrad said. South Africa will be keen to return to the Eden Gardens, where they won their first Test in India in 15 years last November. “We are looking forward to getting to Kolkata, where our tour got off to a really good start for us a few months ago,” said the coach. “We hope to take some good memories back there.The Black Caps have their work cut out for them if they are to end South Africa’s seven-match unbeaten run. Considering the change in conditions, the Kiwis will have to adjust their squad after going in with five-round options in Colombo, where they have played all of their Super 8 games. The team will accept the final call-up to play Matt Henry on his return from paternity leave after he rejoins the side on matchday.Also having Rob Walter as coach should be an advantage for New Zealand. Johannesburg-born Walter was in charge of the SA ODI and T20I teams from 2023-25 and helped them reach the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024. “While SA are playing very good cricket, of course we believe we can beat them. It just takes one bad day for a team that is playing well. We have to be ready and play our best cricket,” said Walter.
