New Zealand and South Africa will battle it out in the first semi-final of the T20 Men’s World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.
South Africa have been in a league of their own. winning every single game they have played in this tournament so far. Seven matches, seven victories. No team in this World Cup has matched that kind of dominance.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
They outclassed India by 76 runs in the Super 8s in Ahmedabad, which silenced even the loudest doubters.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have looked vulnerable at times but have somehow kept finding ways through. They lost to England in a nail-biter, survived scares and still qualified for semi-finals.
However, history is stacked against them, as they have not won any of the single matches against the Proteas in the T20 World Cup.
How has dew impacted T20 World Cup 2026 matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata?
At the Eden Gardens, the presence of dew is low to moderate at this time of the year in the evening due to the minimum moisture content.
However, late in the second innings, it might influence the game.
MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion
Will dew play a factor in SA vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final?
In the days running up to the India-West Indies fixture, weather reports indicate that dew is likely to play a role at night during the match.
According to meteorological projections, humidity is expected to fall in the moderate range, around 40%. However, it shoots up after 9 pm, reaching almost 60%.
Hence, in the second innings, dew might play a factor. As a result, the chasing team in the second innings might find the ball coming onto the bat more comfortably. The spinners might find themselves in trouble in the second innings.
However, an anti-dew spray is set to be used to prevent dew from accumulating.
It prevents the outfield from becoming sluggish due to wet grass, ensuring the ball travels fast. It also reduces the overwhelming advantage of winning the toss and choosing to bowl second.
South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final weather forecast: Rain chances in Kolkata
The weatherman predicts that there is no chance of rain in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Hourly forecast (local time):
- 6 p.m.: 29°C, 0% rain
- 7 p.m.: 27°C, 0% rain
- 8 p.m.: 26°C, 0% rain
- 9 p.m.: 24°C, 0% rain
- 10 p.m.: 23°C, 0% rain
- 11 p.m.: 23°C, 0% rain
South Africa vs New Zealand Odds: Who is the favourite?
South Africa are the favourites to win this semi-final at 1.58 on Dafabet, while New Zealand are the underdogs at 2.40.
* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change
BEST T20 WORLD CUP ODDS AND OFFERS
