Sikandar Raza produced a remarkable all-round performance to keep Zimbabwe competitive, but South Africa held their nerve to secure a five-wicket victory in their final Super Eights game of the T20 World Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday.
Opting to bat, Zimbabwe struggled for consistency, but Raza was the lone star, smashing 73 off 43 balls. He dispatched deliveries to the boundary at will, combining power with precision, as Zimbabwe managed 153 for seven. Despite the impressive individual effort, the rest of the batting line-up failed to provide substantial support against South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack.
Raza then returned with the ball, striking early to remove Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock in the first two overs of the powerplay. He also accounted for Dewald Brevis, who had threatened to take the game away with 42 off 18 balls, leaving South Africa in peril at 101 for five in the 11th over.
Chasing 154, South Africa initially struggled against Raza’s incisive spells. But the middle order, led by Tristan Stubbs (21 not out off 24 balls) and George Linde (31 not out off 21 balls), steadied the innings. Their measured approach, punctuated by calculated hitting, guided the Proteas to a five-wicket win in 17.5 overs, maintaining their unbeaten run into the semifinals against New Zealand in Kolkata.
South Africa’s innings saw early jitters, losing three wickets inside the powerplay. However, Brevis and David Miller swung momentum back with a flurry of big shots, reminding Zimbabwe that the chase was far from over. The home side’s bowlers, aside from Raza, struggled to contain the Proteas’ batting, underlining the gap in depth and experience.
Zimbabwe’s openers, Tadiwanashe Marumani (7) and Brian Bennett (15), began positively against left-arm spinner George Linde but faltered against pacers Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi. Raza’s brilliance, highlighted by towering sixes and crisply timed boundaries, kept Zimbabwe in contention, yet the lack of partnerships and support at the other end meant the total remained below par.
Zimbabwe’s Super Eights campaign ends without a win after topping the group stage, while South Africa progresses, unbeaten, into the semifinals. Raza’s performance, though commendable, emphasises the need for more match-winning contributors to challenge established teams consistently in the T20 format.
Also read: India rout Zimbabwe by 72 runs
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