T20 World Cup: Kiwi spinner Cole McConchie strikes twice in two balls to pile pressure on South Africa – Watch

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New Delhi: After New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against South Africa on Wednesday, off-spinner Cole McConchie put the Kiwis in absolute command. In just the second over of the innings, after the Proteas scored 7 runs off the first, McConchie rocked the top order by claiming two wickets off two successive balls.

After the South African batters tackled the first three balls of the off-spinner, Quinton de Kock lost his rhythm after scoring 10 runs off 8 balls on the fourth delivery as he succumbed against the Kiwi bowler. The brilliant McConchie did not not give enough time to the South African team to recover from the early big jolt as he dismissed Ryan Rickelton off the next ball to push the against the wall.

Rickelton departed for a duck as the Proteas received two big jolts early in the innings in the most crucial clash of the T20 spectacle. Losing the two big wickets came up as a major blow for the South African side as these two batters have delivered well in the team’s campaign so far.

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The double–wicket over not only put the South African side under pressure but also helped the spinner emerge as the new hero for the Kiwis in the most crucial clash, which would decided their fate in the tournament. Earlier both the teams made few changes as the Kiwis invited the Proteas to bat first in the first semifinal in Kolkata.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.