'We back ourselves:' Underdogs New Zealand eye T20 World Cup final

Underdogs New Zealand back themselves against anyone in "one-off games," declared captain Mitchell Santner on the eve of their T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata.

Santner admitted that Aiden Markram's unbeaten South Africa, who comfortably beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the group stage, were "very good".
New Zealand have lost twice, also falling to England in the Super Eights, and squeaked into the semi-finals on net run-rate ahead of Pakistan.

South Africa, by contrast, enjoyed statement wins over India and the West Indies in the second phase.

"Whether you want to call us the underdogs or not, I think for us it is everyone's goal throughout the tournament to get to this stage," Santner told reporters at Eden Gardens.

"We are here now and we back ourselves on one-off games against most teams, being able to adapt as quick as we can to what's in front of us. "South Africa look like a very good outfit as they have shown. "I guess they are in the same boat as us now, it is one game and you are into the final," the left-arm spinner.

New Zealand and South Africa have never won a cricket World Cup in either 50-over or T20 formats.

New Zealand will be playing their fourth semi-final in the last five T20 World Cups. They reached the final in 2021 but lost to Australia.

South Africa reached their maiden final in 2024, losing to India.

"It is probably two teams that have been in and around it for a long time. We know the heartbreak of South Africa two years ago.
"It is whoever turns up on the day tomorrow, whoever sees the conditions the best."

New Zealand are the only semi-finalist to lose more than once in the tournament and defeated only two Test playing nations on the way to the last four — Afghanistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka.

"We haven't probably played the perfect game throughout this tournament," said Santner. "That's a good thing for us, if we can put it all together it can put us in a pretty good position.

"I think there is no real hiding or secrets about what South Africa are going to bring. "We know they are probably going to roll out the same team and a very good team."

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry returned home for the birth of his second child after the defeat to England in Colombo on Friday.
Santner said the bowler would arrive back later Tuesday night. "He'll obviously have a little run around in the morning to see if he's ready to go."

Agence France-PResse