NEW DELHI: South Africa carried their unbeaten run into the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals after chasing down 154 to beat Zimbabwe in Delhi, overcoming a stirring all-round display by Sikandar Raza.
Aiden Markram’s side will now travel to Kolkata to face New Zealand in the first of what they hope will be two knockout matches.
Raza struck 73 off 43 balls, accounting for 12 of Zimbabwe’s 13 boundaries and scoring 73 of the 98 runs made while he was at the crease. His blistering knock, featuring four sixes and eight fours, propelled Zimbabwe to 153 before he fell to Kwena Maphaka. Clive Madande added an unbeaten 26 but the total proved below par.
Raza then returned figures of 3-29, removing Quinton de Kock and Markram in successive overs with the new ball to jolt South Africa. Ryan Rickelton (31) and Dewald Brevis (42) threatened, but it was an unbroken 53-run stand between Tristan Stubbs (21) and George Linde (30) that sealed victory.
“Nice to get the win,” Markram said. “It’s good that the middle order was put under a bit of pressure and came through.”
“I can hold my head high,” Raza added after a lone battle that was not enough to halt South Africa’s charge.
