South Africa continued their ruthless dominance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating a spirited Zimbabwe by five wickets in their final Super 8 Group 1 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
The victory ensured the Proteas remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and booked their place in the semi-finals against New Zealand at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to bat, posted a competitive 153/7 in 20 overs. Captain Sikandar Raza led from the front with a fiery 73 off just 43 balls, providing the backbone of the innings. His knock, laced with powerful strokes, kept Zimbabwe in the contest despite tight bowling from South Africa’s attack, led by Kwena Maphaka’s economical 2/21.
In reply, South Africa got off to a shaky start but found their saviour in young gun Dewald Brevis. The explosive opener smashed 42 off 18 deliveries, including several towering sixes that shifted the momentum decisively. Brevis’s blistering knock helped the Proteas recover from an early wobble and cruise to the target of 154 with 13 balls to spare, finishing at 154/5 in 17.5 overs.
Raza, not done with the bat, turned in a stellar all-round display, claiming 3/29 with his off-spin to trouble the South African middle order. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the Proteas’ juggernaut. Tristan Stubbs and George Linde provided the finishing touches as South Africa sealed the win with clinical efficiency.
The result means South Africa top Group 1 with a flawless record, sending a strong message to their semi-final opponents. Zimbabwe, despite the loss, earned widespread praise for their competitive showing and Raza’s standout performance, which nearly pulled off an upset against the tournament favourites.
Speaking after the match, South Africa captain Aiden Markram said: “Credit to Zimbabwe for making us work hard. Brevis played an outstanding innings when we needed it most. We’re thrilled to stay unbeaten and head into the semis with momentum.”
With the semi-final against New Zealand looming, South Africa will look to extend their unbeaten streak, while Zimbabwe bow out of the Super 8 stage with heads held high after a memorable campaign.
