Zimbabwe did everything in their powers to embarrass their neighbours South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. However despite the individual heroics of skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 73 and then rolled his arms over to register figures of 3/29, they fell short as South Africa chased the target of 154 runs with thirteen balls to spare to stay unbeaten in the World T20 tournament so far.
For a bowling unit that was battered by the West Indies and Indian batting line ups as they raked up 254/6 and 256/4, Sikandar Raza’s side had the tournament’s favourites in a lot of bother throughout the run chase of 154 runs.
Skipper Raza, who scored a breezy 73 off 43 balls to set up the total, removed Quinton de Kock in the very first over as he edged the off spinner to Tadiwanashe Marumani. Two overs later, Raza castled the Proteas skipper Aiden Markram with a carrom ball that kept low. And when Ryan Rickelton, who was brilliantly caught by a diving Ryan Burl, South Africans were reduced to 43/3 in the six mandatory power play overs.
David Miller, who was looking to up the ante after having hit two sixes off Wellington Masakadza towards deep mid wicket boundary, was the next batter to walk back. He guided a short pitched delivery from Blessing Muzarabani to Dion Myers at short third man. Shortly they were reduced to 104/5 when Dewald Brevis skied Raza and was caught, South Africa were in a state of bother still 53 runs adrift.
However, both Tristan Stubbs and George Linde shut shop and played risk free unbeaten knocks of 21 and 30 to take them to victory.
Earlier, Raza’s stand out innings of 73, which was laced by eight boundaries and four sixes, made sure Zimbabwe reached a decent total of 153.
Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe kept on losing regular wickets against a much changed bowling line up fielded by South Africa.
Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj were all rested and in came fast bowler Anrich Nortje, left arm spinner George Linde and left arm young pacer Kwena Maphaka. Brian Bennett, who had lit up the tournament, could only add 15 runs on Sunday. He hit Nortje straight to Markram at mid off. Rest of the batters wilted under pressure as Zimbabwe failed to post a competitive total.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe: 153/7 in 20 overs (Raza 73; Maphaka 2/21); South Africa: 154/5 in 17.5 overs (Brevis 42, Rickelton 31; Raza 3/29)
