New Delhi: South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen stood up with the bat under pressure to help bail his team out of trouble in their semifinal clash against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, March 04. Jansen slammed a brilliant knock of unbeaten 55 off just 30 balls to help the Proteas post a fighting total of 169 runs on the board in the all-important clash.
Jansen became only the second player, after former Australia batter Michael Hussey, to achieve a rare feat with his valiant half-century against New Zealand. He became the second batter to register a fifty-plus score at no.7 or lower in a T20 World Cup knockout game after Hussey, who scored a 60 off 24 balls against Pakistan in the semifinals of the 2010 T20 World Cup.
No batter had managed to score a half-century at no.7 or lower in a knockout game in the T20 World Cup since 2010 until Wednesday. Jansen walked out to bat when the Proteas were reeling at 77/5 in the 11th over of their innings after being asked to bat first in the semifinal.
He smashed an unbeaten 55 off just 30 balls, laced with five sixes and two fours to lift South Africa out of trouble. Jansen combined with Tristan Stubbs (29) to share a valuable 73-run stand for the sixth wicket to lift South Africa from 77/5 to 150/6. He helped his team finish well to post a challenging total of 166 runs on the board.
Batters with fifty-plus score in a T20 World Cup knockout game:
Michael Hussey – 60 off 24 vs Pakistan, 2010 T20 World Cup
Marco Jansen – 55 off 30 vs New Zealand – 2026 T20 World Cup