South Africa vs Zimbabwe live score: Zimbabwe will need to fix their bowling woes against a skilful South Africa as they aim to end their spirited T20 World Cup campaign on a high in the Super 8 final here on Sunday.
Reaching the Super 8 as top of the group has been part of Zimbabwe’s success story and, inspired by their captain Sikandar Raza, they will be determined to push South Africa to the limits.
Bowling discipline is key against the Proteas
South Africa are the team to beat in the ICC World Cup final and if Zimbabwe want to challenge them, they must improve their bowling after conceding more than 250 runs in their previous two Super 8 matches against West Indies and India.
Raza knows his team can only compete with the bigger teams if the three divisions click.
“In a World Cup against the best teams, you need all three of your departments working in tandem. Unfortunately, if one of these departments is lacking, the game runs away from you.
“So, hopefully in the last match we can leave everything as it is and try to arrange all our three sections and hopefully that will give us the best chance of winning the match,” Raza said after India’s defeat.
Errors to correct
Zimbabwe have been guilty of playing too many loose balls in the Super 8 stage. They need to maintain the discipline they showed against Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage.
Their unbeaten run in the group stage came on slow pitches in Sri Lanka, but the margin for error has been reduced significantly in India’s batting-friendly conditions, as happened in Mumbai and Chennai.
Batting Strategy: Maximize Powerplay
On the batting front, the opening duo of Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashi Marumane need to make the most of their power play.
Bennett, who has yet to be dismissed in the tournament, showed against India that he too can go over the ropes. He will need to find a way to counter South Africa’s cunning attack.
South Africa’s strengths
Marko Janssen and Logie Ngidi, with 11 wickets each, have been the standout bowlers for the Proteas, complemented well by fast spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bush and front-line spinner Keshav Maharaj.
The top three – skipper Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton – are at the top of their game, and it will take a special bowling effort from Raza and his team to stop them.
The middle order, including David Miller, Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Previs, also made an impact on the Super 8 stage.
Place and context
South Africa, who have only played in Ahmedabad and Delhi so far in the tournament, return to the national capital for the final of the Super 8 tournament.
In the five matches played here, the 200 was breached only once, with India scoring 209 against Namibia.
It’s a stretch in reality, with South Africa already in the semi-finals and Zimbabwe crashing out of the race after two straight losses.
difference
Zimbabwe: Sikander Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinutunda Mabusa, Tadiwanashe Marumane, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Mosekiwa, Blessing Muzarabane, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Preves, Quinton de Kock, Marko Janssen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Koena Mafaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.