Kolkata witnessed cricketing magic as South Africa’s Marco Jansen delivered a match-defining unbeaten 55 in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against New Zealand. Coming in at number seven, his blistering knock—featuring seven boundaries and five sixes—made him the first Proteas player to notch a fifty from such a low position in a World Cup knockout.
This remarkable achievement places Jansen alongside legends, as only Michael Hussey had previously accomplished this, scoring 60* off 24 in the 2010 semi-final versus Pakistan. Jansen faced 30 deliveries, his aggressive strokeplay rescuing South Africa from 77 for 5 to a challenging 169 for 8.
The innings began disastrously for the Proteas after they were put in to bat. Two wickets tumbled in the second over, and even a 43-run alliance between Markram and Brevis couldn’t stem the flow. By the 11th over, five wickets were down.
Jansen’s 73-run stand with Stubbs proved pivotal, with Stubbs falling for 29. The all-rounder’s composure under pressure highlighted his growing stature. On the bowling front, New Zealand shared the spoils: Henry, McConchie, and Ravindra with two each, Ferguson and Neesham one.
As South Africa eyes the final, Jansen’s record-breaking performance underscores the unpredictability of T20 cricket, where heroes can emerge from anywhere in the order.
