New Zealand reached its second men’s T20 World Cup final with a victory so complete that, for all the intrigue of the first half, the chase carried scarcely a tremor of uncertainty. Pursuing 170 at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, the Black Caps swept past the Proteas by nine wickets with 43 balls to spare.

For long stretches earlier, the South African total of 169 for eight had the look of something modest. Much had to be owed to New Zealand’s reading of the surface and the match-ups. The pitch was slower than the one used for the India-West Indies Super Eight game, the ball gripping and refusing to arrive cleanly to the bat. Mitchell Santner recognised it early.

Quinton de Kock’s below-par record against off-spin prompted the introduction of Cole McConchie inside the PowerPlay, and the move worked instantly.

The southpaw, having just driven a short, wide ball for four, was denied room next delivery and miscued the pull. Ryan Rickelton then fell first ball, slicing to backward point. The squeeze continued through the middle overs as Santner and Rachin Ravindra operated in tandem. Rachin, who had earlier spilled Aiden Markram, dismissed him in his first over and removed David Miller in the next. At 77 for four in 10 overs, South Africa’s innings appeared stalled.

The late overs altered that picture. Jimmy Neesham’s 18th over went for 22 as Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs broke the rhythm. Jansen struck two sixes off Lockie Ferguson to reach a 27-ball half-century, finishing unbeaten on 55 off 30. South Africa climbed to 169 from what had looked closer to a 140-type total.

If that intervention briefly revived the contest, New Zealand’s openers quickly removed the doubt with blistering knocks.

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen attacked the new ball with clear intent, taking 29 from Jansen’s opening two overs and 11 from Lungi Ngidi’s first. The Kiwis closed the PowerPlay on 84 without loss. While Santner had introduced spin early, Markram waited until the seventh over to bring on Keshav Maharaj despite having two right-handers at the crease.

By then, the pursuit had taken decisive shape, Allen’s unbeaten 33-ball 100 guiding New Zealand to its first T20 World Cup win over South Africa.