T20 World Cup: South Africa subdue Sikandar Raza brilliance, go to the semifinal unbeaten

New Delhi: South Africa marched into the T20 World Cup semifinals without a single blemish on their record after subduing a one-man assault from Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. A 5-wicket victory—their seventh in succession—sealed top spot in Group 1 and booked a Wednesday date with New Zealand in Kolkata.

Resting three first-choice bowlers for the dead rubber, the Proteas still found enough firepower to keep Zimbabwe to 153 for seven. The surface, offering the occasional shooter, never allowed the batsmen to settle, yet Raza appeared to bat on a different strip. Walking in at 34 for two after Brian Bennett had been pinned by Anrich Nortje, the skipper lashed eight fours and four sixes in a 45-ball 73, dominating an 11-over passage in which every other Zimbabwean merely survived. Corbin Bosch was introduced in the final over of the Powerplay and was greeted by a driven four and a flat six; Raza was finally foiled in the 16th over when Kwena Maphaka’s cutter found the leading edge and David Miller held the skier at cover-point. Zimbabwe limped to 153, managing only 27 off the last 23 deliveries. Maphaka’s 2 for 21 headlined a disciplined collective effort.

Raza’s day was not finished. Opening the bowling, he nipped out Quinton de Kock third ball and flattened Aiden Markram with a grubber that trimmed the top of off, leaving South Africa wobbling at 14 for two. Dewald Brevis killed the drama with an 18-ball 42 that featured four sixes, while Ryan Rickelton’s 31 and David Miller’s unbeaten 22 ensured the target was hunted down in 17.5 overs.

The win underlined South Africa’s depth: back-up bowlers executed plans, middle-order batsmen absorbed pressure, and the team retained its perfect run ahead of the knockout stage.