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NEW DELHI: Sikandar Raza almost single handedly carried Zimbabwe national cricket team with a superb all round show before a nervy South Africa national cricket team steadied themselves for a five wicket win in their final Super Eights match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Sunday.

After choosing to bat, Raza struck a fluent 73 off 43 balls in an otherwise underwhelming batting effort as South Africa restricted Zimbabwe to 153 for seven.

Early strikes shake Proteas

Raza then made his presence felt with the ball, removing the dangerous pair of Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock in his first two overs during the powerplay. He later returned to dismiss a blazing Dewald Brevis (42 off 18), leaving the Proteas reeling at 101 for five in the 11th over.

With 53 still required and a few deliveries keeping low, South Africa were briefly under pressure. However, Tristan Stubbs (21 not out off 24) and George Linde (31 not out off 21) guided the chase home in 17.5 overs.

South Africa had earlier lost three wickets inside the powerplay, but Brevis and David Miller counter attacked to shift the momentum. A flurry of big shots quickly took the wind out of Zimbabwe’s sails.

There were a few more stumbles along the way, yet Stubbs and Linde ensured South Africa carried their unbeaten run into the semifinal against New Zealand national cricket team in Kolkata.

Zimbabwe fall short despite fight

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, ended the Super Eights without a win after topping their group in the league stage. Despite the defeat, Raza was the standout performer in the afternoon clash at Ferozshah Kotla.

The captain found boundaries and sixes at will while the rest of the batting unit struggled against a quality pace attack.

Apart from Raza, the batters attempted to take on Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje and the in form Lungi Ngidi but could not execute consistently.

Maphaka and Nortje are not regular members of South Africa’s preferred eleven, with Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj rested ahead of the semifinal.

Need for more firepower

Zimbabwe did well to reach the Super Eights but could not reproduce their league stage success against stronger opponents.

Raza understands what the team must improve to regularly compete with the established sides, but they are still developing. Power hitting remains crucial in the shortest format and Zimbabwe need more players capable of putting top attacks under sustained pressure.

On Sunday, openers Tadiwanashe Marumani (7) and Brian Bennett (15) started positively against left arm spinner George Linde but failed to accelerate against the quicks.

Left handed Marumani had his leg stump disturbed while attempting to launch left arm pacer Maphaka.

Bennett, who has been consistent at the top, tried to loft Nortje over mid off but could not clear the fielder.

Raza, however, responded with authority after being hurried by Nortje off his very first ball.

He pulled Corbin Bosch over deep backward square leg for a six and struck a couple of fours in the sixth over to take Zimbabwe to 45 for two in six overs.

Raza continued to find the ropes regularly even as wickets kept falling at the other end.

He showed his class by backing away to Nortje for a drive past mid off and then smashing a flat six over deep mid wicket in the eighth over.

Raza brought up a well deserved half century off 29 balls, but without adequate support, Zimbabwe were left with a below par total.

(With PTI Inputs)