South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets, top Group 1:Markram’s side will face New Zealand in 1st semifinal at Eden Gardens

South Africa defeated Zimbabwe by 5 wickets in their final Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup. The team finished at top of the Group 1 points table. So, Proteas will play the first semi-final against New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4. In Sunday’s first match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat. Zimbabwe scored 153 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa chased down the target in 17.5 overs for 5 wickets. Dewald Brewis top-scored with 42 runs. Meanwhile, Sikandar Raza took 3 wickets and scored 73 runs. Although Zimbabwe did not win the match, Raza was also named Player of the Match. Sikandar Raza’s gritty 73 leads Zimbabwe to 153/7 West Indies openers Tadiwanashe Marumani (7) and Brian Bennett (15) departed cheaply. Only Sikandar Raza held the charge at one end as the wickets kept falling on the other end. The Zimbabwe skipper then slammed fifty and got out for 73 in 43 balls by Kwena Mphaka. Clive Madande then played a cameo of 26 runs in the end to set up a competitive target against the strong side of South Africa. Dewald Brevis leads the chase for SA after early stutters Sikandar Raza shone with the ball as well, sending both South Africa openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock for 4 and 0 respectively in the powerplay. After early jolts, Ryan Rickelton departed for 31, followed by 50 run partnership off just 25 balls between Dewald Brevis and David Miller. The partnership accelerated the chase, and the final nail in the coffin was another 50+ run stand between George Linde and Tristan Stubbs. It was an unbeaten 53-run partnership in just 44 balls that sealed the chase for South Africa. Brevis was the highest run scorer for the Proteas, hitting 42 runs in just 18 balls. Playing XI of both teams: Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani South Africa: Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi