🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Super8 - M51: ZIM vs SA🏏

🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Super8 - M51: ZIM vs SA🏏

We started with three. Now there are two, and soon there will be one. African teams at the men's T20 World Cup, that is.

Namibia were the first to go, a consequence of losing all four of their group games. The going was always going to be tough for them. Cricket is well resourced and excellently run in their country, but at this stage they cannot compete consistently with the bigger sides. So it was not a surprise that they struggled to make an impression.

But the Zimbabweans surprised immensely, beating not only the lesser-fancied Oman but also Australia and Sri Lanka to storm into the Super Eights. They would have fancied their chance of winning against Ireland, but that match was washed out.

Zimbabwean cricket has emerged into the light after years of instability and mismanagement the likes of which Namibia has never known. But those teams' performances in this tournament couldn't have borne less resemblance to their off-field circumstances.

Brian Bennett, who has been dismissed just once in five innings in the tournament and was second among the run-scorers after Thursday's match, could yet be named Player of the Tournament. He may indeed have batted his way into an IPL contract. Might that also be the case for Blessing Muzarabani, who is in second place on the wicket-takers' list?

What isn't in question is that the Zimbabweans will be on their way home after their match against South Africa in Delhi on Sunday. Sikandar Raza's side have been the darlings of the World Cup, but that doesn't earn any points in the standings. They lost their Super Eights games against West Indies and India, and are out of the running for a place in the semifinals.

The South Africans have been the tournament's juggernaut. They are the only unbeaten side among all 20 who started the competition and are safely in the semifinals. The sole instance of them being stretched was when they needed two super overs to scrape past Afghanistan.

Thus they are heavily favoured to be too strong for the visibly flagging Zimbabweans, whose best hope might be that because South Africa do not need to win on Sunday, they won't. But this team seems better organised and settled than any others from their country at a World Cup, so that seems unlikely.

South Africa clearly top cricket's African hierarchy. They only think of teams like Zimbabwe and Namibia when they have to play against them. But the Zimbabweans and the Namibians celebrate South Africa's successes almost as joyfully as their own.

Whatever happens on Sunday, they'll be watching Aiden Markram's men as the tournament reaches its sharp end.

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

What to expect: Chasing teams have won four of the five matches played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with an average first innings score of 160. South Africa brushed past United Arab Emirates in their previous fixture at this venue but with dew not a factor, batting first may not be too bad a choice anyway.

Team news:

South Africa

With the job of reaching the semis done, they might just empty the bench. Which would mean the same XI who played against UAE at the same ground. If that happens David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi will take a break, and will be replaced by Jason Smith, George Linde, Anrich Nortje and Kwena Maphaka.

Probable XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka

Zimbabwe

It's difficult to think of a reason to make changes when you have one foot on the flight home. The same XI who India hammered by 72 runs in Chennai on Thursday will probably get another game.

Probable XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

Did you know?

* South Africa have won three of their four completed World Cup matches - ODI and T20 - against Zimbabwe.

* Zimbabwe's only win in World Cup games against South Africa was at Chelmsford in 1999, a result that put Australia into the final after they tied the semifinal against South Africa at Edgbaston.

* The Zimbabwe and South Africa squads were on the same flight to the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. When the Zimbabweans took some beers to the South Africans to celebrate their return to the global game after isolation, the Saffers declined the offer.

Big picture - History, conditions against Zimbabwe

South Africa have had a near-perfect tournament so far. Fifty games in, they are the only unbeaten side in this 20-team T20 World Cup and are poised to enter the semi-finals with a spotless record. On Sunday, Aiden Markram's men will meet their neighbours Zimbabwe, who last beat South Africa in international cricket way back in 2000. Overall, Zimbabwe have beaten South Africa just twicein 58 completed international matches.

Apart from history, the conditions and recent form are also against Zimbabwe. After toppling Australia and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe have struggled across the board in India. Having suffered back-to-back defeats on flatter pitches at the Wankhede and Chepauk, Zimbabwe were knocked out of contention for the semi-finals.

Their bowlers conceded back-to-back 250-plus totals against West Indies and India. The indiscipline has seeped into their fielding as well: after dropping just one catch in the group stage, Zimbabwe have shelled at least five chances in two matches in the Super Eight. Yet they have had plenty of reasons to celebrate, including avoiding going through the qualifiers for the 2028 T20 World Cup.

South Africa may rest some of their key players as they did earlier in another dead rubber against UAE in Delhi.

In the spotlight - Corbin Bosch and Brad Evans

A late bloomer in international cricket, allrounder Corbin Bosch has barely been needed with the bat in this competition, but has been South Africa's go-to bowler in the death overs. He has bowled 54 balls between overs 16 and 20, conceding just 56 runs while taking three wickets. Lungi Ngidi's variations have grabbed the headlines, but Bosch has certainly played his part with variations of his own, especially the yorker.

Brad Evans also has a good slower ball in his repertoire, but didn't find grip at Wankhede or Chepauk. His slower ones slid onto the bat, making it easier for batters to line him up. Can he find a way to be more potent in these conditions and sign off on a high?

Team news - SA may empty their bench again

With not much riding on this fixture, South Africa may empty their bench again and keep some of their first-choice players fresh for the knockouts. Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde and Anrich Nortje all could add to their caps.

South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Jason Smith/David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen/Kwena Maphaka, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj/George Linde, 11 Lungi Ngidi/Anrich Nortje

The presence of four left-handers in South Africa's top seven may keep left-arm fingerspinner Wellington Masakadza on the bench. Zimbabwe, though, may consider bringing wristspinner Graeme Cremer back in place of medium-pacer Tinotenda Maposa.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3 Dion Myers, 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt), 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarava

Pitch and conditions

The last time South Africa played in Delhi, their bowlers enjoyed the pace and bounce that the venue offered. Substantial bounce could also keep Zimbabwe's tall pace pack interested. Zimbabwe's fielders may also be more comfortable with an afternoon game. After the multiple drops against West Indies and India, Zimbabwe's fielding coach Stuart Matsikenyerisuggested that their players don't have a lot of exposure to catching under lights, but refused to use that as an excuse. The weather is expected to be fine for the duration of this game.

Stats and trivia

• With 277 runs in five innings, Brian Bennett has toppled the Zimbabwe record for the most runs by a player in a T20 World Cup
• Ngidi is one wicket away from surpassing Tabraiz Shamsi as South Africa's leading wicket-taker in T20Is. They are currently at 89 strikes
• Markram's strike rate of 178.37 is the best among 11 openers who have faced at least 100 balls in the tournament

Thank you, Parm, for the thread and for tagging.

Let us hope to watch a thrilling match.