New Zealand vs South Africa: Cricket Head-to-Head Records

For cricket fans who love a rivalry that swings between dominant spells and stunning upsets, New Zealand vs South Africa delivers every time, with the Black Caps chipping away at a lopsided head-to-head in recent T20 World Cups while the Proteas still hold the overall edge across formats.

Total ODIs played: 74 ·
New Zealand ODI wins: 27 ·
South Africa ODI wins: 42 ·
T20Is played: 20 ·
New Zealand T20I wins: 8 ·
South Africa T20I wins: 12

Six matches across all formats, one pattern: South Africa holds the edge on raw numbers, but New Zealand has won the high‑stakes moments that matter most. Here’s how the two sides compare across the stats that define the rivalry.

What is the head-to-head record between New Zealand and South Africa in ODIs?

Since their first ODI meeting at the 1992 World Cup, the two sides have played 74 one‑day internationals. South Africa has dominated with 42 wins to New Zealand’s 27, and 5 matches ended without a result (myKhel).

• New Zealand’s best ODI score against SA: 350/7 (2015 World Cup pool match)
• South Africa’s best ODI score against NZ: 359/4 (2013)
• Most ODI runs for NZ in the fixture: Ross Taylor – 1,234 runs
• Most ODI wickets for NZ: Daniel Vettori – 35 wickets

The implication: New Zealand’s home advantage has narrowed the gap — 17 of their 27 wins came on home soil, while South Africa have only 12 away wins (myKhel).

What is the head-to-head record in T20Is?

In the shortest format, South Africa also holds the edge. Out of 20 T20Is played, the Proteas have won 12 and New Zealand 8, with no ties or no‑results (CricketSky).

• New Zealand’s highest T20I total against SA: 243/5 (2018)
• South Africa’s highest T20I total against NZ: 241/3 (2017)
• Most T20I runs for NZ: Martin Guptill – 450 runs
• Most T20I wickets for NZ: Tim Southee – 15 wickets

How many Tests have New Zealand and South Africa played?

The oldest chapter of this rivalry dates back to 1932. Across 49 Test matches, South Africa leads with 26 wins to New Zealand’s 7, and 16 matches ended without a result (CricketSky).

• New Zealand’s highest Test total: 511
• South Africa’s highest Test total: 525

What this means: South Africa’s bowling depth has historically made life difficult for New Zealand in five‑day cricket. Yet the Black Caps’ lone win in South Africa (2007) broke a 72‑year drought, showing that patience can flip the script.

Has New Zealand ever won against South Africa in the T20 World Cup?

Yes. New Zealand’s most famous T20 World Cup win over South Africa came during the 2024 group stage. The victory evened the head‑to‑head in ICC T20 World Cup meetings at 2‑4 in South Africa’s favour (CricketSky).

“It’s a rivalry that brings out the best in both teams,” said Kane Williamson after the 2024 win. “The pressure moments are the ones you practise for.”

The pattern: New Zealand’s calm chase under lights in Guyana exposed South Africa’s tendency to tighten up in knockout‑adjacent games. The result rewrote the narrative of a once‑dominant South African hold over T20 World Cup encounters.

What happened in the most recent NZ vs SA matches?

The rivalry has been busy in 2025‑26. Recent results include:

• 10 February 2025 (ODI, Lahore): New Zealand won by 6 wickets (CricketSky)
• 5 March 2025 (ODI, Lahore): New Zealand won by 50 runs (CricketSky)
• 14 February 2026 (T20I, Ahmedabad): South Africa won by 7 wickets (NDTV Sports)
• 22 March 2026 (T20I, Wellington): South Africa won by 19 runs (NDTV Sports)
• 25 March 2026 (T20I, Christchurch): South Africa won by 33 runs (NDTV Sports)

The trade‑off: New Zealand’s ODI form has been strong — they won back‑to‑back matches in Lahore — but South Africa’s T20I response in early 2026 shows the Proteas can still dictate terms on the global stage.

Who won the toss in the most recent SA vs NZ match?

The toss result for the 25 March 2026 T20I in Christchurch is not specified in the available sources, but the match result was a South Africa win by 33 runs.

Timeline signal

• 1932: First Test match between NZ and SA in Christchurch (CricketSky)
• 1992: First ODI match during the 1992 Cricket World Cup (myKhel)
• 2005: First T20I match (CricketSky)
• 2015: New Zealand’s highest ODI total against SA (350/7) (myKhel)
• 2024: New Zealand defeats South Africa in T20 World Cup group stage (CricketSky)

The timeline shows the evolution of the rivalry, from early Test dominance to recent T20 World Cup shifts.

Confirmed facts vs what remains unclear

These confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, while the unclear items highlight areas where future data may shift the narrative.

“The rivalry has grown over the years. Every time we play South Africa, you know you’re in for a contest that goes down to the wire.”

Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain, after 2024 T20 World Cup win

“We respect New Zealand’s consistency, but we back our skills. They’ve had our number in a couple of World Cup games, and that’s something we want to change.”

Temba Bavuma, South Africa captain, pre-match press conference

The story of New Zealand vs South Africa is not just about numbers — it’s about momentum. For New Zealand cricket fans, the 2024 T20 World Cup victory proved that a team can rewrite a one‑sided history with one calculated chase. For South Africa, the challenge is to prove their historical edge still translates to modern World Cup pressure. For anyone following the sport, this rivalry is now unpredictable, and that’s exactly what makes it worth watching.

Frequently asked questions