South Africa defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets on Sunday, maintaining their undefeated record at the T20 World Cup ahead of a semi-final matchup with New Zealand on Wednesday.
South Africa overcame an early wobble after Zimbabwe scored 153/7 in New Delhi. The 2024 runners-up reached 154/5 in 17.5 overs thanks to a 42-run knock from Dewald Brevis off 18 balls.
“It’s exciting. Really exciting. A semi-final in Kolkata against New Zealand. The boys will be up for it. It’s still 40 overs of good cricket needed and we need to give it that respect,” AFP quoted said South Africa captain Aiden Markram as saying.
After hitting 73 and taking 3/29 with his off-spin, Sikandar Raza was awarded player of the match. Zimbabwe advanced to the Super Eights after shocking Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the group round.
“My immediate reflection is that I shouldn’t be here. I’ve never got a man of the match for losing the game, but I can hold my head high. The way the boys have played the whole tournament, I know we took a bit of beating in the previous two games, but I think with each beating came a valuable lesson. I think we have improved with every game that we have played,” said Raza.
Quinton de Kock was caught behind for a duck when Raza struck on the third delivery of the South African chase. In the next over, Raza bowled Markram for four.
Brad Evans’ bouncer struck Ryan Rickelton in the helmet, and it took him five minutes to recover. In the following over, he hit Evans for two consecutive sixes before being caught for 31 by the bowler.
Brevis and David Miller, who hit 22, put on 50 before Zimbabwe scored two more rapid strikes. Raza got rid of Brevis, and Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Miller.
George Linde (30) and Tristan Stubbs (21) then led their team to the target with an undefeated 53-run stand.
Zimbabwe lost the in-form opener Brian Bennett, who hit an undefeated 97 against India, for 15 after opting to bat.
Miller caught left-armer Kwena Maphaka off a leading edge after Raza hit his fifty from 29 balls. At the end, Clive Madande boosted the total with an unbeaten 26 off 20 balls.
Corbin Bosch took 2/40 from his four overs, while Maphaka took 2/21.
