SA vs ZIM Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Skiddy delivery from around the stump, goes straight with the arm. Ryan Rickelton backs away and pats it back to the bowler.

Brad Evans to Dewald Brevis, Hard length on top of off, Dewald Brevis defends this off his back foot.

Brad Evans to Dewald Brevis, Good length on the pads, Dewald Brevis tucks this through the right of mid-wicket and hustles back for two.

Brad Evans to Dewald Brevis, On a length around off, Dewald Brevis pushes this to extra cover.

Brad Evans to Ryan Rickelton, Good length on off, Ryan pushes this gently to mid off and takes a quick single.

Thankfully, Rickelton smiles and is finally good to continue. Will we see another bumper here?

Brad Evans to Ryan Rickelton, RYAN IS ROCKED! A bumper, around the right shoulder of Ryan Rickelton from Brad at full throtle and Ryan goes for the hook but misses. Gets thumped onto the front of his helmet. The ball deflects to square leg but Ryan Rickelton looks rattled as he takes his helmet off his head. The South African team physio has rushed in to have a check on the batter. A prolonged check on Ryan adds to the concern for Rickleton's well-being but it is good to see that the batter is still up on his feet and is smiling. After a long check, Ryan is good to continue.

Brad Evans to Ryan Rickelton, Good length on middle and off, Ryan Rickelton drives this to mid off for a dot.

Sikandar Raza to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! A boundary from the bat of Brevis to get him off the mark. Quicker and flatter around off, Dewald Brevis rocks back and plays the square cut well. Gets it past backward point and the ball has raced to the fence for four.

Ooooh! That one just didn't rise enough from the pitch as goes almost underground. And Raza's joy knows no bounds.

Two down early for the Proteas. Dewald Brevis is in at number 4.

Sikandar Raza to Aiden Markram, OUT! TIMBER! The Proteas are put under pressure from Raza's brilliance. Seam up, full and in the line of the stumps, Aiden Markram backs away and looks to punch this through covers but the ball doesn't bounce as much as the batter expected it to and gets cleaned up. The in-form Aiden Markram departs for 4 off 5. 

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Floated onto the pads, Ryan Rickelton tucks it around square leg for a strike rotation.

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Tossed up, on leg, Ryan Rickelton goes for a flick but gets it edged off the outside to extra cover.

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Full and on off, Ryan Rickelton backs away and drives this well but straight to wide mid off.

Sikandar Raza to Aiden Markram, Good length on the pads, Aiden Markram works this away to deep mid-wicket for one.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Rickelton, Hard length on middle and off, Ryan Rickelton pulls this flat to mid-wicket for no run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Rickelton, SIX! Back of a length on middle and off, Ryan Rickelton plants his front foot away from the line of it and pulls this over the fence towards deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 

Blessing Muzarabani to Aiden Markram, Short and on middle and off, Aiden Markram gets it away from the inside of his bat to the right of Sikandar Raza at mid on for one.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Rickelton, Good length on middle and off, Ryan goes back and guides this to third man region for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Rickelton, Blessing Muzarabani goes full, and angling it across the batter. Ryan Rickelton takes a baby step out in front and goes after it but gets beaten on the outside.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Rickelton, Hard length on off, Ryan Rickelton keeps it out off his back foot.

Assuming Blessing Muzarabani will take the ball from the other end. Bingo. Here's Zimbabwe's most successful bowler this World Cup into the attack.

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Tossed up, on middle and off, Ryan Rickelton strides out in front and milks this through mid on for a run to end the over. 

Sikandar Raza to Aiden Markram, Pushed through on off, Aiden Markram goes back inside the crease and milks this through mid on for another single.

Sikandar Raza to Ryan Rickelton, Floated onto the pads, Ryan Rickelton flicks this through mid-wicket for a run.

Raza can do nothing wrong today. Provides a massive breakthrough in the very first over. Ryan Rickelton is the next batter in at number 3.

Sikandar Raza to Quinton de Kock, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Sikandar Raza bowls from around the stumps to Quinton de Kock, darts one just outside off. Quinton de Kock looks to play the late cut off the back foot but slashes under it and outside edges this back to Tadiwanashe Marumani behind the stumps. The ball sticks in his gloves. A duck for Quinton de Kock and Zimbabwe are off to a great start.

Sikandar Raza to Quinton de Kock, Short and wide of off, Quinton de Kock punches this to short cover for no run.

Sikandar Raza to Aiden Markram, Fired into the pads from Raza, Aiden Markram rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.

We are back with South Africa's reply with the bat. Raza has his men in a huddle before the Zimbabwean players scatter throughout the park and take their spots on the field. Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram are the two South African openers. And oh, Zimbabwe are starting with spin as Sikandar Raza himself takes the responsibility to open the attack. Markram to face. Here we go again!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

South Africa eye for a clean slate - Righto, 154 is the number for the Proteas to keep their winning streak intact in this T20 World Cup. Considering how comfortable they have looked while chasing, and with teams winning four out of five games here in Delhi while hunting targets, the odds appear stacked in their favour. Zimbabwe will need something special with the ball to slow down this South African juggernaut and defend what is competitive, but not quite imposing. A lot will depend on Blessing Muzarabani and Raza himself with the ball to provide breakthroughs. Back in a bit with the run chase. Stay tuned.

Raza, one-man army - South Africa, however, refused to let the game slip. They kept striking at regular intervals, denying Zimbabwe the chance to string together a partnership of note. Every time a stand threatened to form, it was swiftly broken. Amid the turbulence, Raza stood tall, the lone pillar in the innings, with Zimbabwe’s prospects resting heavily on his ability to bat deep. He produced a superb 73 off 43 balls, but the support around him was thin. Once he fell in the 17th over, any hopes of a late surge took a serious hit. Madande chipped in with an unbeaten 26, yet he could not quite find the extra gear required at the death, and Zimbabwe were left without the strong finish they were searching for.

Slippery start, steadying act - Zimbabwe lost Marumani as early as the second over, and with hopes pinned on Bennett, the start needed stability. But this was no batting paradise. The surface had enough life to keep the bowlers interested, with uneven bounce and a hint of movement. Bennett’s dismissal only deepened the trouble, pushing Zimbabwe onto the back foot. At 45/2 at the end of the Powerplay, the responsibility squarely fell on the middle order to rebuild. Sikandar Raza stepped up with a composed yet assertive approach, blending caution with timely aggression to steady the innings. His effort helped Zimbabwe regain some control, reaching 80/3 at the halfway mark

A middling score - 21 runs in the last 2 overs will give Zimbabwe a little bit of momentum as they walk back in the dugout but they will know this is still well short of what they had in mind. Credit to the Proteas for the control they maintained with the ball right through the innings. But, if we take a close look at the first inning scores in Delhi in this World Cup, especially in the day games, the range hasn't exceeded past 150-160. Only once has the 200 mark breached, but that was in the night game.

Corbin Bosch to Clive Madande, A couple to end the Zimbabwean innings. Back of a length on middle and off, Clive Madande smashes this through mid on and takes a couple. Zimbabwe post 153 on the board after 20 overs.

Corbin Bosch to Clive Madande, FOUR! Yorker again from Corbin on off this time, Clive Madande brings out the reverse ramp and hits this right behind the stumps for four runs. Anrich Nortje puts in a good effort, running to his right from fine leg to cut it off, but fails to do so. 150 comes up for Zimbabwe.

Corbin Bosch to Wellington Masakadza, Corbin goes for a yorker again but misses and lands a full toss on the pads. Wellington Masakadza tucks this to deep mid-wicket for one.

The next batter is Wellington Masakadza.

Corbin Bosch to Brad Evans, OUT! TIMBER! Yorker, bang in the line of the sticks. Brad Evans steps across and looks to sweep this behind square on leg but misses. The ball sneaks past the batter and rattles the timber. Zimbabwe are 146/7 as Bosch gets his second wicket.

Corbin Bosch to Clive Madande, Good length on middle and leg, Clive Madande flicks this to long on for a run.

Corbin Bosch to Clive Madande, Bosch bowls it full and on middle and leg, Clive Madande drills this straight down the ground for a brace as Tristan Stubbs cuts it to his left from long on.

One over to go. Zimbabwe will be targeting 155 runs, but can they get there? It will be Corbin Bosch to bowl the final over of the innings.

Lungi Ngidi to Clive Madande, Yet another slower one, on middle and off, Clive Madande chips this short of long on for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Clive Madande, Low full toss, on off, Clive Madande tucks this through mid-wicket for a couple this time.

Lungi Ngidi to Brad Evans, Hard length onto the pads, Brad Evans tucks this to short fine leg for a run.

Lungi Ngidi to Brad Evans, SIX! Brad connects with the bat this time and gets plenty behind it. Another slower one, full and wide of off, Brad Evans leans onto the delivery and lofts this over the fence towards sweeper cover for a biggie.

Lungi Ngidi to Brad Evans, Good length, wide outside off, Brad Evans swings at it but doesn't connect with the ball once again.

Lungi Ngidi to Brad Evans, Slower one, full and wide of off, Brad Evans looks to drag this across with a sweep but misses.