In the first ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final, the New Zealand cricket team will take on the South Africa cricket team in Eden Gardens. While South Africa won the previous clash, New Zealand still have a few ways to make their comeback: Key Tactics NZ Must Use to Beat SA in Semi-Final Win The Toss and Chase Kolkata has been a favorable ground for chasing teams and New Zealand need to aim to win the toss and bowl first. Chasing gives New Zealand more control over the game, especially with so much pressure on their shoulders. This is something that we have seen India do so well, chasing down a massive target with calm nerves on this very ground earlier in the tournament. If New Zealand are made to bat first and lose quick wickets again to South Africa's quick bowlers, it will put them under pressure yet again. Also Read | Watch: BCCI shares glimpse of Zaheer Khan's training session with the CoE, Head of Cricket welcomes Khan warmly Lockie Ferguson Must Strike Early One major threat to New Zealand comes from the pair of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton and Lockie Ferguson has enjoyed good form against both these players in league cricket over the years. A bit of shortness and targeting the body could trouble de Kock, while with Rickelton, Ferguson can change his angle, bowl around the wicket and exploit the seam movement of this ground. Getting both these batsmen out early on the ground would put more pressure on South Africa as they have decent depth in their middle order which gets more potent if they have a bit of time in hand. Use Offspin in Powerplay Aiden Markram is currently in brilliant touch, but over the past few tournaments, he has had a bit of trouble against spin in the early part of the innings and New Zealand could perhaps use Cole McConchie inside the powerplay with offspin. South Africa's opener has faced little offspin in the powerplay over the last couple of seasons. McConchie also has the advantage of having two left handers on both sides of Markram. This might also result in a lack of loose balls for Markram to hit and slow his scoring down. Also Read | T20 WC 2026: Buttler Just 5 Runs Short of Kohli’s All-Time India vs England T20I Record Santner in the Middle Overs Mitchell Santner will need to contain the middle overs brilliantly as David Miller and Tristan Stubbs look to score quickly and aggressively. Stubbs especially has scored slowly against left arm spin in the past and Santner's bowling can prove to be very economical at this ground. Santner can hold one end for New Zealand and take key wickets at that crucial stage of the game and pull South Africa back. With quick wickets early on in the game, sensible use of bowling changes and correct batting plans, New Zealand can give South Africa a really tough contest.