New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner hailed his side’s commanding nine-wicket win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-final, calling it a “pretty pleasing” performance in a high-pressure clash.
Chasing 170, New Zealand sealed victory with 43 balls to spare thanks to Finn Allen’s blistering 33-ball half-century — the fastest in the tournament’s history. Earlier, the Black Caps restricted South Africa to 169/8, with Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra claiming two wickets each. Santner said the team learned from their earlier defeat in Ahmedabad and executed their plans better, including using spin early.
Delighted with the all-round display, Santner said the team will now focus on preparing for the final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.