Despite Sikandar Raza’s all-round brilliance, Zimbabwe suffered a five-wicket defeat to South Africa in a high-stakes T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 encounter. South Africa chased 154 effortlessly, propelled by explosive batting to set up a semi-final clash with New Zealand.
Batting first, Zimbabwe reached 153/7, with Raza’s 73 off 43 balls the lone bright spot. His boundary-laden innings (8×4, 4×6) couldn’t compensate for the middle-order collapse. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Bosch’s 2-40 and Maphaka’s economical 2-21, kept things tight.
South Africa’s pursuit started poorly – de Kock duck, Markram 4 – but Rickelton (31 off 22) and especially Brevis (42 off 18) flipped the script. Brevis’s four sixes and two fours were devastating. Miller’s 22 followed, then Stubbs (21*) and Linde (30*) calmly guided home the win with an unbroken 53.
Raza struck back with 3-29, but it wasn’t enough. South Africa’s third Super 8 triumph underscores their tournament pedigree. Zimbabwe exits, while the Proteas gear up for New Zealand in the semis on March 4.