New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline: 1932 to 2026 Records

Finn Allen smashed a hundred off 33 balls against South Africa on 4 March 2026. Three weeks later, South Africa sealed a 3-2 T20 series win on New Zealand soil. That is how this rivalry works. One side lands a punch, and the other answers.

Here is the full New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline, from the first Test of 1932 to the latest game on 25 March 2026. Every number comes from ESPNcricinfo, ICC event pages and match reports. Let’s start with the big picture.

New Zealand vs South Africa Head-to-Head at a Glance

Here is the overall New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Standings across all three formats, as of 24 September 2026.

South Africa lead by a mile in Tests. New Zealand have closed the gap in the last few years, especially in big ICC games. We checked for newer meetings and found none after 25 March 2026.

The Timeline: Era by Era

Think of this as a family album. Some photos are black and white. The recent ones are in high definition.

1932 to 1964: The Early Tests

South Africa won the first Test ever played between the two, at Christchurch. It finished on 1 March 1932 with an innings-and-12-run win. They also took the 1932 series 2-0.

The 1953-54 tour of South Africa was a long one. Five Tests, and South Africa won four. New Zealand had to wait until 1961-62 for their first Test wins over South Africa. They won two of the five and drew that series 2-2.

Then came a big gap. The next Test series was in 1994-95.

1992 to 1999: Back on the Field

The two teams met in a World Cup on 29 February 1992 at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand won by seven wickets. It was the first ever ODI between them.

South Africa won their first Test series after the break, 2-1, in 1994-95. Then came the 1999 Test in Auckland. Daryll Cullinan hit 275 not out, and South Africa piled up 621/5 declared. The match was drawn, but the numbers still stand out.

2000 to 2010: The Proteas Take Charge

This was South Africa’s decade. They won the Test series in 2000-01 (2-0), 2005-06 (2-0) and 2007-08 (2-0). They also won the ODI series 5-0 in 2000-01 and 4-0 in 2005-06.

The first T20I between the two came on 21 October 2005 at the Wanderers. New Zealand won by five wickets. New Zealand had bright spots too. Stephen Fleming hit 134 not out in a 2003 World Cup chase. But the overall picture was green and gold.

2011 to 2019: Knockouts and Nerves

South Africa kept winning Test series. They won in 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016 and 2016-17. New Zealand were bowled out for just 45 at Cape Town in January 2013.

Yet New Zealand owned the World Cup meetings. They won the 2011 quarter-final by 49 runs. In 2015, they beat South Africa in a rain-affected semi-final at Eden Park. In 2019, they won a tight game at Edgbaston by four wickets.

2020 to 2026: The Kiwis Bite Back

The mood changed. In February 2022, New Zealand crushed South Africa by an innings and 276 runs. South Africa hit back with a 198-run win in the second Test. The series ended 1-1.

In February 2024, New Zealand won both Tests. It was their first Test series win over South Africa, ever. In March 2025, they beat South Africa by 50 runs in the Champions Trophy semi-final. In July 2025, they beat South Africa in the Harare tri-series final by three runs. Then came Kolkata in March 2026, and that Finn Allen hundred.

South Africa still won the five-match T20I series in New Zealand 3-2 a few weeks later. Rivalries are messy like that.

Test Cricket: New Zealand Vs South Africa Series by Series

This is the core of the New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Matches story. There have been 18 Test series. South Africa won 13, New Zealand won 1, and 4 were drawn.

Home and Away: Where the Tests Were Won

Notice something? South Africa win far more often at home. But even in New Zealand, they have won more than twice as many Tests as the hosts.

ODI History: Series and World Cup Meetings

The two sides have played 74 ODIs. South Africa won 42, New Zealand won 27, and five had no result. The first ODI was that 1992 World Cup game at Eden Park on 29 February.

ODI Series Results

ODI World Cup Meetings

New Zealand have won six of nine World Cup games against South Africa. South Africa have won three.

ICC Champions Trophy Meetings

They have met three times in this event. New Zealand won twice.

Why does the 2025 game matter? Rachin Ravindra hit 108 and Kane Williamson hit 102. David Miller made an unbeaten 100 for South Africa, but it came too late. New Zealand’s 362/6 was a tournament-record total at that point, per ESPNcricinfo.

T20I History: Fast, Loud and Close

The two teams have played 25 T20Is. South Africa lead 15-10. The first was on 21 October 2005 at the Wanderers.

T20I Series Results

T20 World Cup Meetings

South Africa won the first five World Cup meetings. New Zealand won the sixth, and it was the big one.

Recent T20I Matches (2025 to 2026)

This is the freshest data for New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Stats.

Match Scorecards That Defined the Rivalry

Here is a quick New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard view of the biggest games.

The Kolkata semi-final was brutal for South Africa. Allen and Seifert added 84 in the six-over powerplay. Allen’s ton was the fastest ever in a men’s T20 World Cup. South Africa coach Shukri Conrad called it a “walloping” instead of a choke.

Rivalry: Key Players and Memorable Performances (Era Wise Till 2026)

Here is a look at the New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Players who shaped each era.

Records and Stats: Totals, Lows and Biggest Wins

Highest Team Totals in a Test Innings

Lowest Totals in an Innings

The Test rows cover all 49 Tests. The ODI and T20I rows cover the matches listed in this article.

Greatest Wins

Team Honours Side by Side

Expert Insight

Cricinfo’s preview of the 2026 semi-final made a sharp point. New Zealand reach ICC semi-finals more often than almost anyone. South Africa’s problem is different. They often arrive unbeaten and then wobble on the day.

Our reading: the Test record is lopsided, but the ICC record is dead level at nine wins each. If you want to bet on a knockout game, the recent trend leans New Zealand. (Editor’s note: add a quote from a named analyst here for extra E-E-A-T value.)

Our Review: Who Has the Edge Now?

South Africa own the long history. They lead Tests, ODIs and T20Is. But the big knockout games have gone New Zealand’s way lately: the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final and the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final. South Africa won the other recent ICC meetings, in the 2023 World Cup and the 2026 group game. New Zealand also won both Tests in 2024, though South Africa sent a depleted squad, so treat that result with care.

Verdict: South Africa by history, New Zealand by momentum in big games.

Where to Watch New Zealand Vs South Africa

Broadcast rights change by country and by series. Here is where to look.

Where To Watch New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team:

• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ has usually carried home matches.
• South Africa: SuperSport has usually carried Proteas games.
• ICC events: The official ICC broadcaster in your country holds the rights.

Always check the ICC, NZC and Cricket South Africa websites for the latest schedule. We did not find a confirmed new fixture between the two at the time of writing.

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Conclusion

The New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline is a story in four parts. South Africa ruled the early Tests. The 1990s and 2000s belonged to the Proteas. The 2010s brought World Cup heartbreak for South Africa. Since 2022, New Zealand have won more of the big moments. With 83 South African wins, 44 New Zealand wins, 16 draws and 5 no-results, this rivalry is far from finished.

FAQs

1. Who has won more matches between New Zealand and South Africa?

South Africa lead 83 to 44 across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, with 16 drawn Tests and 5 no-result ODIs.

2. When did New Zealand and South Africa first play each other?

The first Test was in February 1932 at Christchurch. The first ODI was on 29 February 1992 and the first T20I on 21 October 2005.

3. Who won the most recent meeting?

South Africa won the fifth T20I by 33 runs at Christchurch on 25 March 2026. They took the series 3-2.

4. Who is better in ICC events?

It is level. They have met 18 times in ICC events, and each team has won nine. New Zealand lead in World Cups (6-3) and the Champions Trophy (2-1). South Africa lead in T20 World Cups (5-1).

5. What is the fastest T20 World Cup century against South Africa?

Finn Allen’s 100 not out off 33 balls at Eden Gardens on 4 March 2026.