South Africa survived a brilliant all-round show by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to record a five-wicket that means they remain unbeaten at the T20 World Cup ahead of a semi-final against New Zealand this week.
After Zimbabwe scored 153-7 in New Delhi, South Africa survived an early wobble.
Dewald Brevis hit 42 off 18 balls as the 2024 runners-up reached 154-5 in 17.5 overs.
In the final Super Eight group game, India chased down 196 to beat West Indies by five wickets and book a clash with England in the other semi-final.
“It’s exciting. Really exciting. A semi-final in Kolkata against New Zealand,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.
“The boys will be up for it. It’s still 40 overs of good cricket needed and we need to give it that respect.”
Raza, who was named player of the match, earlier hit 73 and then took 3-29 with his off-spin for Zimbabwe, who had stunned Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the group stage to reach the Super Eights.
“My immediate reflection is that I shouldn’t be here. I’ve never got a man of the match for losing the game, but I can hold my head high,” said Raza.
“The way the boys have played the whole tournament, I know we took a bit of beating in the previous two games, but I think with each beating came a valuable lesson. I think we have improved with every game that we have played.”
Raza struck on the third ball of the South African chase to send back Quinton de Kock caught behind for a duck.
Raza bowled Markram for four in the next over.
Ryan Rickelton was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Brad Evans and took five minutes to recover.
He then lifted Evans for two straight sixes in the next over before the bowler had him caught for 31.
Brevis and David Miller, who hit 22, put on 50 before two more quick strikes from Zimbabwe.
Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Miller and Raza removed Brevis.
Tristan Stubbs (21) and George Linde (30) then put on an unbeaten 53 to steer their side to the target.
After choosing to bat, Zimbabwe lost the in-form opener Brian Bennett, who hit an unbeaten 97 in the defeat by India, for 15.
Raza reached his fifty off 29 balls before falling to left-armer Kwena Maphaka, caught by Miller off a leading edge.
Clive Madande boosted the total with 26 not out off 20 balls at the end.
Maphaka took 2-21 from his four overs and Corbin Bosch 2-40.
Sanju Samson’s sparkling unbeaten 97 kept alive India’s dream of retaining the T20 World Cup at home as they knocked out the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Kolkata.
Samson hit 12 fours and four sixes in his superb 50-ball knock in the winner-takes-all final Super Eights match to thrill a capacity 67,000 fans at a pulsating Eden Gardens.
After the West Indies smacked 70 off the last five overs to score 195-4 after being asked to bat, India lost two early wickets but were always up with the required rate.
Samson, opening for the second match in succession, led the way.
When India slipped to 41-2 he was joined by captain Suryakumar Yadav (18) and the pair added 58 for the third wicket.
Tilak Varma was next to join Samson and scored 27 off 15 before departing in the 15th over with the score 141-4 and India still needing 55.
Samson stood firm and though Hardik Pandya fell for 17 India reached the target with four balls to spare to spark celebrations and fireworks.
Jason Holder and Rovman Powell earlier put on an unbroken stand of 76 for the fifth wicket to help the West Indies set the defending champions a target of 196 to stay alive.
The West Indies sprang a surprise at the top of the order, promoting Test captain Roston Chase to open alongside T20 skipper Shai Hope.
That enabled them to bring in an extra spinner, Akeal Hosein, with regular opener Brandon King left out.
In their defeat to South Africa last week the West Indies slumped to 83-7 but the new-look opening partnership was more assured.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy got the first breakthrough, bowling Hope for a sluggish 32.
Shimron Hetmyer raced to 27 off 12 balls before falling to the faintest of edges off Jasprit Bumrah to make it 102-2.
After Chase fell for 40 and Sherfane Rutherford followed, Powell and Holder launched their brutal late assault.
Powell finished on 34 not out from 19 balls with two sixes and three fours while Holder was unbeaten on 37 off 22 balls with three sixes and two fours.
It could have been better for India but they dropped three regulation catches in a sloppy fielding display, including Chase when he had made just 15.
Thursday 2.30am, Black Caps v South Africa, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Friday 2.30am, India v England, Wankhede, Mumbai