South Africa vs Zimbabwe Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa Beat Zimbabwe By 5 Wickets, To Face New Zealand In Semi-Finals

Semi-final 1 is locked in - Right then, South Africa have stamped their authority in Group 1 of the Super 8s and they will now take on New Zealand in the first semifinal of this Men's T20 World Cup. The Proteas do have a bit of a score to even out against the Kiwis, falling short to them on a few occasions prior in the knockout stages of World Cup competitions, the most famous one being the 2015 ODI World Cup semifinal. Should be a cracking encounter in Kolkata. For now, let's turn our attention to the huge game that is looming large. India go up against West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in a straight shootout for the final spot in the semifinals. The winner goes through and faces England and the loser goes home empty-handed. The game is scheduled to start at 1.30 pm GMT, which is just a few minutes away and India are bowling first. You can simply switch tabs and tune in to our coverage of that game. Cheers!

Looking to play a good brand of cricket - The victorious South African captain, Aiden Markram, reflects on the win, noting the value of securing a victory on a challenging surface. He praises the depth of the squad, highlighting that the players coming into the side stepped up effectively and that the middle order benefited from being tested after the top order failed to contribute significantly. Markram explains that while rotating the lineup ahead of the knockouts is a difficult call, providing game time to the bench is key. Looking ahead, he remains focused on maintaining a high standard, asserting that if the team continues to play a good brand of cricket, the results will naturally follow.

The world will be seeing more of Zimbabwe - Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe, says that Qualifying was a big step and not playing the Qualifiers and sealing a direct place in the next T20 World Cup means a lot. Mentions that as a captain and as a leader, he is proud of the boys and feels that they got better after every game and hopes that they keep improving in the near future. On the ODI World Cup next year, Raza says that for some of them, it looks too far ahead but feels that the culture they have built in the dressing room has given them hope to do bigger and better things and hopes that some of the senior players can stick around for that World Cup. Further adds that the Zimbabwe management has been working behind the scenes to get them those touring opportunities to play a high level of cricket and assures that the world be seeing more and more of Zimbabwe in the near future.

Let's now hear from the two captains...

End of the road for the Chevrons - What a remarkable campaign for Zimbabwe and yet it ends on a disappointing note. They were simply outclassed by their African neighbors in all aspects of the game, maybe not in the catching department, which continues to remain a big area of strength for Zimbabwe. Not much to write home about with the bat for Zimbabwe, as Sikandar Raza nearly made half of their total runs in this game. A handy 26 off 20 balls at the death from Clive Madande pushed the final total beyond 150 runs but they were always about 25-30 runs short. With the ball, they did put up a bit of a fight, led by their charismatic skipper again. His three-wicket haul was the cornerstone of hope Zimbabwe needed to defend a low total but barring him and a couple of good overs from Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans, no one else contributed much and things started to slip away really fast.

Player of the Match - Sikandar Raza earns the award for an exceptional all-round display, anchoring the Chevrons with a defiant 73 off 43 balls before returning a clinical bowling spell of 3 for 29. Reflecting on the campaign, the skipper expresses pride in his team's growth, noting that the lessons learned here are vital for transitioning Zimbabwe from a mid-table side into a top-six or top-seven contender. Raza admits that while he initially believed 170 was the par score on a sticky surface and had they gotten it, things might have been different at the end. Raza strategically opted to open the bowling himself, sensing that the deck's tackiness would allow him to set a tone that the seamers could exploit later in the middle overs.

Testing the bench strength - South Africa made three changes to their Playing XI, with three of their frontline bowlers being given a rest. The likes of Anrich Nortje, George Linde and Kwena Maphaka got a chance to make a mark and all three of them did a pretty good job, especially Linde, who contributed heavily with the bat as well. After being asked to bowl first, the Proteas managed to pick up multiple wickets in a short space of time in different phases of the game and never allowed Zimbabwe to get into 5th gear. Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch picked up a couple of eickets each, but the former was highly economical as well. With the bat, their openers flopped but the middle order flexed its muscle, albeit for not a long time. Dewald Brevis did get a very quick 42 off just 18 balls, a crucial knock heading into the semis and batters from number 3 to number 7, all made atleast 21 or more runs, eventually making light work of a meager target.

Undefeated and unbroken - South Africa end the Super Eight stage just as they ended the initial Group Stage - without a single loss to their name and head into the knockouts as favorites to win it all. Zimbabwe end their memorable campaign with three straight losses but they head back home with their heads held high.

South Africa remain undefeated as they win this by 5 wickets. Slower one, short and on off, Tristan Stubbs drags this across with a pull through mid-wicket and takes a couple to wrap this contest in favor of the Proteas.

NO BALL! Pitched up, around off, Tristan Stubbs drives this straight to Sikandar Raza at mid off for a dot. The batters looks for a run but this is timed a bit too well by Stubbs. Hang on, the siren goes around signaling a no ball. Free Hit up next.

Linde was eyeing a boundary here. On a length wide of off, George Linde stays leg side and looks to loft this over covers but gets it edged off the inside half of the blade and the ball goes towards short fine leg for a single. 50 of the stand comes up between these two, in 42 balls.

Slower one, short and wide of off, Tristan Stubbs cuts this to deep point for another strike rotation. The 150 is up for the Proteas.

Good length around off, George Linde cuts this well towards point but a good effort from Wellington Masakadza as he gets a good bit of hand to it and takes the sting out of it, keeps it down to one.

Blessing Muzarabani bends his back and hits the deck hard and bowls it around the off stump. Tristan Stubbs punches this off his back foot to sweeper cover for a single.

Dragged length, wide outside off, slapped off the back foot to deep point for a single.

Bowled from the front of the hand, full and outside off, driven with an angled bat towards backward point.

WIDE. Loopy delivery, floated up wide outside off stump and just beyond the tramline as well. Tristan Stubbs leaves it alone for a wide.

Flat and full, just outside off, Linde stays leg side of the ball and hits it down to long off for a run.

Length ball, angled into the pads, Stubbs turns it through mid-wicket for one more.

Fired in now, at the toes, Linde flicks it through square leg for a single.