Zimbabwe vs South Africa T20 Cricket World Cup Super 8 Predictions - Markram to secure Proteas’ unbeaten record

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 3 hours ago

Simon Lewis 3 hours ago

Share this article

Aiden Markram hit four sixes in his 46-ball 82* against the West Indies.
Brian Bennett (277 runs, ave 277.00) is 2nd in the World Cup runs list
Can South Africa hit the semi-finals with their unbeaten record intact?

Aiden Markram hits square against the West Indies (Getty Images).

Zimbabwe vs South Africa Predictions

Zimbabwe enjoyed a great group stage in this World Cup, only to suffer two heavy defeats in their two Super 8 matches, which have seen them miss out on the semi-finals. South Africa are undefeated in the tournament after some superb performances and are the overwhelming favourites to go into the semi-finals undefeated.

Zimbabwe vs South Africa Predictions
Head-to-Head
Zimbabwe Form
South Africa Form
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Team News & Squads

South Africa’s Aiden Markram has scored 86*, 28 & 82* in his last 4 innings.
South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton has scored 61, 21, 30 & 45* in his last 5 innings.
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett hit six sixes in his 59-ball 97* against India.
Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza has scored 25*, 45, 27 & 31 in his last 4 innings.

Head-to-Head

South Africa have won three and lost none of their last five T20Is against Zimbabwe. The other two matches were rained-off.

Zimbabwe Form

After making it through the group stages undefeated, Zimbabwe lost both of their Super 8 matches by large margins, in the process losing out on the chance to make it through to the semi-finals. Their last match saw them lose to India by 82 runs.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers took a pounding as India racked up 256/4 off their 20 overs. Sikandar Raza (1/29, econ 9.66) and Brian Bennett (0/16, econ 8.00) were the only Zimbabwe bowlers to go for under 10 runs to the over.

Blessing Muzarabani continued his good form with the ball, picking up 1/43 as he dismissed opener Sanju Samson in the 4th over.

Opener Brian Bennett scored an incredible 97* off 59 balls in a vain attempt to keep his side in the hunt. Bennett has been one of the stars of this World Cup. He got support from Tadiwanashe Marumani (20 off 20) and Sikandar Raza (31 off 21), but the asking rate proved too high.

South Africa Form

South Africa completed their sixth win on the trot when they trounced the West Indies by nine wickets with 23 balls to spare.

South Africa had the on-fire West Indies top-order in disarray at 83/7 in the 11th over. The West Indies recovered to reach 176/8 off their 20 overs.

Lungi Ngidi (3/30, econ 7.50) and Kagiso Rabada (2/22, econ 5.50) knocked over the West Indies’ top five batters. Corbin Bosch chipped in with 2/31 (econ 7.75), while Keshav Maharaj (econ 10.75) and Marco Jansen (econ 12.50) both took some punishment from the West Indies’ lower middle-order.

Aiden Markram (82* off 46) and Quinton de Kock (47 off 24) shared an opening stand of 95, with each batter hitting four sixes. Ryan Rickelton (45* off 28) added two sixes in taking South Africa to the win in an unbroken stand of 82 for the second wicket with Markram.

Zimbabwe vs South Africa Team News & Squads

Speaking in the post-match interview, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza admitted his side has failed to contain the Indian top order in their Super 8 clash.

“Last game it was 250 and there was a rush in the batting line-up. Today, we were composed in the first six overs and we gave ourselves a chance. We could have restricted them to 210-220 and then you never know. Bowling and fielding we could have done better. The last game taught us how to go about chasing a big total. One lapse and the game runs away from you,” said Raza.

Proteas captain Aiden Markram starred with the bat in his side’s nine-wicket win over the West Indies in their second Super 8 match. Speaking in the post-match interview he expressed his pride in his team’s performance.

“I thought we bowled nicely as a team like the West Indies will take the game to you. Lot of credit to the bowlers as I felt like while we were bowling the wicket kept getting better and better. Ricks has come and made No. 3 his own. No step in this competition is easy. Hopefully we get through,“ said Markram.

Zimbabwe (possible XI): Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Brad Evans, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava.

South Africa (possible XI): Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.