KATHMANDU: The ICC T20 World Cup semifinals begin today with a high-stakes clash between South Africa and New Zealand.

The first semifinal will be played on Wednesday at the iconic Eden Gardens, with the match set to start at 7:15 PM local time.

South Africa booked their place in the semifinals as Group ‘A’ winners in the Super 8 stage. They defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets and West Indies by nine wickets, before registering an emphatic 76-run victory over India to seal their spot.

New Zealand, meanwhile, advanced as runners-up from their Super 8 group. They secured one win in the stage, beating Sri Lanka by 61 runs. The Kiwis suffered a four-wicket defeat to England, while their match against Pakistan was washed out due to rain.

In their last five meetings, New Zealand hold a slight edge with three wins, compared to South Africa’s two. The winner of today’s contest will face the victor of Thursday’s second semifinal between India and England in Sunday’s final.