South Africa holds a higher ranking in the limited-overs formats, while New Zealand and South Africa remain closely matched in traditional Test cricket.
Format
New Zealand Rank
New Zealand Rating
South Africa Rank
South Africa Rating
Test
7th
82
4th
103
ODI
4th
108
3rd
112
T20I
5th
247
7th
231
ICC World Test Championship Standings (2025–2027)
South Africa is currently pushing for a top spot in the finals, while New Zealand occupies a mid-table position trying to close the gap.
Position
Team
Matches Played
Won
Lost
Drawn
Points Percentage (%)
2
South Africa
9
6
3
0
66.67%
5
New Zealand
9
4
5
0
44.44%
Head-to-Head Summary
Format
Total Matches Played
New Zealand Wins
South Africa Wins
No Result / Tied / Drawn
Test Cricket
49
7
26
16
ODI Cricket
72
25
42
5
T20I Cricket
15
4
11
0
Most Memorable Match – The Epic Thriller!
Category
Match Detail
Tournament / Event
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Semi-Final
Date
24 March 2015
Venue
Eden Park, Auckland
South Africa Inning
281/5 (43 Overs) – Faf du Plessis 82, Corey Anderson 3/72
New Zealand Inning
299/6 (42.5 Overs) – Grant Elliott 84*, Morne Morkel 3/59
Result
New Zealand won by 4 wickets (DLS method)
Historic Significance
Grant Elliott hit a dramatic six off the second-to-last ball of the match to send New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup final
Major Tournament Matches Between Them
Tournament
Year
Stage
Winner
Margin of Victory
Key Performer
ICC ODI World Cup
2011
Quarter-Final
New Zealand
49 runs
Jacob Oram
ICC ODI World Cup
2015
Semi-Final
New Zealand
4 wickets
Grant Elliott
ICC ODI World Cup
2019
League Stage
New Zealand
4 wickets
Kane Williamson
ICC ODI World Cup
2023
League Stage
South Africa
190 runs
Quinton de Kock
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
2026
Super Eight
South Africa
18 runs
Heinrich Klaasen
Key Performance Leaderboard
Player Name
Team
Format
Metric Category
Statistical Record
Kane Williamson
New Zealand
Test / ODI
Master Accumulator
1000+ runs against South Africa across formats
David Miller
South Africa
ODI / T20I
Finisher
Highest strike rate in limited-overs matches against New Zealand
Tim Southee
New Zealand
All Formats
Pace Spearhead
45+ total wickets across formats against South Africa
Kagiso Rabada
South Africa
All Formats
Strike Bowler
50+ total international wickets against New Zealand
Mitchell Santner
New Zealand
T20I / ODI
Defensive Spinner
Economy rate under 6.90 in head-to-head limited-overs matches
The Battlefield: Tactical Power-Plays & Record Breakers (2025-26)
Tactical Phase
New Zealand Strategy
South Africa Strategy
Dominant Team
Statistical Impact
Mandatory Power-Play (1-6)
Build a steady foundation with minimal risk
Attack with extra pace and steep bounce
South Africa
South Africa takes an early power-play wicket 58% of the time
Middle Overs Consolidation
Use tight spin and change of pace cutters
Target boundaries using physical power hitting
New Zealand
New Zealand spinners maintain a 52% dot-ball ratio
Death Overs Execution
Rely on wide yorkers and smart field placements
Unleash heavy lower-order hitting over the ropes
South Africa
South Africa scores an average of 62 runs in the final 5 overs
Boundary Percentage
Rely on timed lofts down the ground
Rely on muscle power hitting behind square leg
South Africa
South Africa hit 8 more sixes in their most recent meeting
The Tactical Edge: Strategic Matchups & Squad Dynamics
Strategic Matchup
Tactical Vulnerability
Counter-Strategy Deployable
Expected Outcome
Devon Conway vs Kagiso Rabada
Vulnerable to sharp rising bounce at the ribs early on
Riding the bounce to play late down to third man
High risk power-play phase for the opener
Heinrich Klaasen vs Mitchell Santner
Struggles when spin is pushed flat and wide of off-stump
Using the depth of the crease to cut through point
Tight defensive battle in the middle overs
Glenn Phillips vs Marco Jansen
Trouble picking up the left-arm angle across the body
Guard adjustment to target the straight boundaries
Even contest with high boundary potential
David Miller vs Trent Boult
Early vulnerability to sharp incoming yorkers on the toes
Standing slightly deeper in the crease to clear the front leg
