New Zealand won the match mainly because of the explosive batting performance by Finn Allen, who smashed an incredible 100 runs from just 33 balls with a strike rate above 300. His aggressive innings completely changed the momentum of the game and allowed New Zealand to chase the 170-run target comfortably.

In contrast, South Africa lost because their top order failed to build a strong foundation on a good batting pitch. Key players like Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Ryan Rickelton could not score big runs early, which slowed the innings and put pressure on the middle order. Although Dewald Brevis tried to stabilize the innings with 34 runs, it was not enough to create a big total. The solid reason behind New Zealand’s victory was power hitting, a fast start, and Finn Allen’s match-winning century, while South Africa struggled due to weak top-order performance on a batting-friendly pitch.