Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway [Source: X]Cricketing rivalries have always been an exciting affair to watch, and the NZ vs SA 1st T20I at Hamilton on March 17 provided yet another thrilling experience for fans. While India vs Pakistan and Australia vs England rivalries have been the pinnacle of intense competition, South Africa and New Zealand have also been cricketing nations with a history of remarkable clashes. Though their T20I history is still evolving, the recent encounter has etched its place in the record books. New Zealand posted their third-highest total against South Africa in the recent clash, so let’s take a look at all the other high totals recorded by New Zealand. 5) 173/4 at Hamilton (2012) The second T20I at Hamilton on February 19, 2012, saw South Africa emerge victorious despite New Zealand putting up one of their highest T20I totals against them. Batting first, the Kiwis, led by Martin Guptill with his 35-ball 47, posted a total of 173 runs on the board, with valuable contributions from Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, and James Franklin as well. However, with the ball, Tim Southee and co. failed to restrict South Africa, as they chased down the total comfortably with four overs remaining. With Richard Levi’s fluent 51-ball 117, South Africa easily cruised past the target without any significant dent to their scorecard. Also Read: 5 IPL 2026 Players Who Surprisingly Went Unsold In The Hundred Auction4) 175/7 at Ahmedabad (2025) During a group stage match, New Zealand faced South Africa, posting their fourth-highest T20I total against the Proteas, yet falling short again. New Zealand batted first, led by Mark Chapman’s brilliant 26-ball 48, along with late contributions from Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham. However, their total of 175/7 was chased down comfortably by South Africa’s powerful batting lineup, with Aiden Markram remaining unbeaten on 86 off 44 balls. Markram and David Miller guided the team to victory with almost three overs to spare, losing only three wickets while chasing the challenging target. 3) 175/6 at Hamilton (2026) New Zealand posted their third-highest T20I total against South Africa on March 17, 2026, at Seddon Park in Hamilton. As South Africa toured New Zealand for the second T20I of the series, the Kiwis scored 175 for six wickets, taking on bowlers like George Linde and skipper Keshav Maharaj. Batting first, Devon Conway played a solid knock of 60 off 49 balls. Tom Latham, however, disappointed, while Tim Robinson failed for just one run. It was Nick Kelly, Mitchell Santner, and Josh Clarkson who contributed towards the end to post a competitive total for South Africa to chase. Among the Proteas bowlers, Gerald Coetzee, Ottniel Baartman, and Wiaan Mulder were the standout performers, but New Zealand still managed to push past the 170-run mark. 2) 177/7 at Centurion (2015) Back in August 2015, New Zealand posted a solid total of 177 and emerged victorious against South Africa in a Tri-Series also involving Zimbabwe. Batting first, the Black Caps were led by Martin Guptill’s 35-ball 60, followed by valuable contributions from James Neesham, Grant Elliott, and captain Kane Williamson. Defending 177 in 20 overs, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Nathan McCullum bowled with discipline to restrict South Africa to just 145/8. Despite the presence of batters like Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk, and David Miller, the chase fell short, handing New Zealand a comfortable 32-run victory. 1) 180/5 at Harare (2025) In the Zimbabwe 2020 Tri-Series, New Zealand posted their highest-ever T20I total against South Africa, scoring 180/5. Batting first once again, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra anchored the innings with 47 runs each. Late fireworks from Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell helped the Kiwis post a competitive total of 180 at the end of 20 overs. Although the middle order stuttered slightly, New Zealand’s bowling firepower ensured that South Africa were kept under pressure. The Proteas got off to a strong start, with Lhuan dre-Pretorius smashing a 35-ball 51. Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis looked solid and nearly guided their team to victory. However, Matt Henry turned the tide, defending seven runs in the final over. In a brilliant display of death bowling, he dismissed both Dewald Brevis and George Linde in the same over to seal a thrilling three-run win for New Zealand.Also Read: Zaheer Khan Enters New T20 League After LSG Snub In IPL
