Reaching the Super 8 as group toppers was part of the success story for Zimbabwe, and inspired by their leader Sikandar Raza, they will be determined to push South Africa to the limit.
Bowling Discipline Key Against Proteas
South Africa are the team to beat in the ICC showpiece, and if Zimbabwe are to challenge them, they must improve their bowling performance after conceding more than 250 runs in the previous two Super 8 games against West Indies and India.
Raza knows his side can only compete with the bigger teams if all three departments click.
“At the World Cup against the best teams, you need all your three departments to be working hand in hand. And unfortunately, if one lacks, then the game runs away from you.
“So hopefully in the last game, leave everything on the park and we try and sort out all our three departments and hopefully that gives us the best chance to win the game,” Raza said after the India defeat.
Errors to Correct
Zimbabwe have been guilty of bowling too many loose balls in the Super 8 stage. They need to bowl with the discipline they displayed against Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage.
Their unbeaten run in the group stage came on slow pitches in Sri Lanka, but the margin for error drops drastically in batting-friendly Indian conditions, as they experienced in Mumbai and Chennai.
Batting Strategy: Maximising the Powerplay
On the batting front, the opening duo of Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani need to make the most of the powerplay.
Bennett, who is yet to be dismissed in the tournament, showed against India that he can also clear the ropes. He will need to find a way to tackle a wily South African attack.
South Africa’s Strengths
Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, with 11 wickets each, have been the standout bowlers for the Proteas, complemented well by pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, and frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj.
The top three — skipper Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Ryan Rickelton — are in top form, and it would take a special bowling effort from Raza and his team to stop them.
The middle order, including David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Dewald Brevis, has also made an impact in the Super 8 stage.
Venue and Context
South Africa, who have only played in Ahmedabad and Delhi so far in the tournament, return to the national capital for their final Super 8 fixture.
In the five games played here, 200 has only been breached once, with India posting 209 against Namibia.
It is effectively a dead rubber, with South Africa already through to the semifinals and Zimbabwe eliminated from the race following back-to-back losses.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.