South Africa vs Zimbabwe Prediction — Who Will Win Today’s Super 8 Clash?

The South Africa vs Zimbabwe prediction for the 51st Match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 brings together the tournament’s most dominant side and a team that has captured hearts despite exiting the competition.

This SA vs ZIM Super 8 clash takes place on Sunday, 1st March 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi — one of India’s most iconic cricket venues.

South Africa arrive as the only unbeaten team left in the tournament. They have swept through six consecutive matches and already secured their semi-final place. Every opponent has been beaten. No team has come close to stopping them.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have been outplayed in both of their Super 8 fixtures. They lost to West Indies by 107 runs and to India by 72 runs. The semi-finals are out of reach, and Sunday becomes a match purely for pride.

Despite the lopsided standings, there are genuine storylines here. Brian Bennett has been one of the players of the tournament. He has scored 277 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 136 and has been dismissed just once in five innings. The talk of an IPL contract is real.

Blessing Muzarabani is the second-highest wicket-taker in the entire tournament. His pace and bounce have caused problems for every team in this competition.

For South Africa, Aiden Markram leads the batting charts with 264 runs at an average of 66 and a strike rate above 178. Marco Jansen has 11 wickets at an average of 16.72.

Cricketwebs brings you the full SA vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 prediction — covering pitch conditions, probable XIs, Dream11 picks, weather, toss, and our expert winner selection. South Africa are overwhelming favourites, but Zimbabwe’s stars will play for legacy and individual milestones on Sunday.

• South Africa are the only unbeaten team in the tournament with six consecutive wins. They have already qualified for the semi-finals. This match carries no points pressure for them, but they will want to maintain their perfect record and go into the knockouts with maximum confidence.
• Brian Bennett has been Zimbabwe’s star of the tournament, scoring 277 runs in five matches. He has been dismissed just once. His batting has been so impressive that an IPL franchise is rumoured to be watching closely. He will play this final Super 8 match for individual glory and a lasting impression.
• Blessing Muzarabani is second on the overall wicket-taking list in this T20 World Cup. His pace and trajectory make him a real threat even against South Africa’s powerful batting lineup. He and Brad Evans give Zimbabwe a bowling attack capable of occasional brilliance even under pressure.
• South Africa hold a perfect 7-0 record in T20Is against Zimbabwe. Their batting is led by Markram’s 264 tournament runs at average 66. Their bowling features Jansen’s 11 wickets and a deep attack of Rabada, Maharaj, Nortje, and Maphaka. This is a vastly superior side on paper and in current form.

Match Details

Match	SA vs ZIM, 51st Match, Super 8 T20
Date	Sunday, 1st March 2026
Time	3:00 PM IST
Venue	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, India
Tournament	ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Broadcaster	JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

South Africa Preview

South Africa have been the story of this T20 World Cup. Six matches, Six wins, Not a single defeat.

Their march through the competition has been relentless. They have not been tested to any meaningful degree in most of their fixtures.

The one exception was their Super Over drama against Afghanistan. But even then, it took two super overs to separate the sides — and South Africa came through.

Aiden Markram has been the backbone of their batting. The captain has scored 264 runs in six matches at an average of 66 and a strike rate of 178.37. He is clinical at the top of the order and sets the tone for everything that follows.

Quinton de Kock partners Markram at the top. He is explosive from ball one. Against West Indies, he blasted 47 off 24 balls to help South Africa race to 177 in just 16.1 overs. His ability to demolish powerplay bowling is unmatched.

Ryan Rickelton sits at number three. He is the anchor of the middle order. When wickets fall in the powerplay, Rickelton steadies the ship without slowing the run rate.

Dewald Brevis and David Miller provide the firepower in the middle and late overs. Miller has scored 146 runs this tournament at a strike rate above 160. He is one of the cleanest hitters in world cricket.

Tristan Stubbs adds depth and versatility at number six. South Africa can bat all the way down to number nine — their lower order is no soft touch.

The bowling is equally formidable. Marco Jansen leads the attack with 11 wickets at an average of 16.72. His height, pace, and ability to extract bounce from any surface make him dangerous in all conditions.

Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are the premier fast bowlers, but the coaching staff may rest both of them ahead of the semi-finals. Anrich Nortje and Kwena Maphaka could step in.

Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch have combined for 14 wickets between them. The spin-pace combination gives South Africa options in every phase of the match.

Even a rotated South Africa XI is stronger than most full-strength sides in this tournament. Zimbabwe will need something extraordinary to trouble them.

Key South Africa Statistics

• Aiden Markram: 264 runs, average 66, strike rate 178.37 — tournament batting leader
• Marco Jansen: 11 wickets at average 16.72 — South Africa’s most dangerous bowler
• David Miller: 146 runs at strike rate 160+ — devastating lower-order finisher

Zimbabwe Preview

Zimbabwe came into this Super 8 stage with momentum and the admiration of the cricketing world. Their group stage performances were genuinely impressive. They had found a style that worked.

But the Super 8 has been a different story entirely.

They lost to West Indies by 107 runs. Then to India by 72 runs. Both defeats exposed the same fundamental problem — their bowling has been unable to restrict powerful batting lineups.

In both Super 8 matches, Zimbabwe chose to bowl first. The opposition batted first and scored in excess of 250 combined runs across those two innings. Zimbabwe simply could not contain them.

Brian Bennett has been the shining exception to Zimbabwe’s struggles. He has scored 277 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 136. He was dismissed just once in five innings — a level of consistency that is genuinely elite.

His innings of 97* off 59 balls in the last match was one of the finest innings of the entire tournament. He struck the ball with timing, power, and intelligence throughout that innings.

Tadiwanashe Marumani partners Bennett at the top. He provides tempo and works well in partnership to give Zimbabwe a solid base. When both fire together, Zimbabwe can post competitive totals.

Sikandar Raza is the captain and the heartbeat of this Zimbabwe side. He bats in the middle order and contributes useful scores of 20-30 that prevent momentum from stalling.

Ryan Burl provides support in the middle overs. He is experienced and understands the demands of international T20 cricket. His reading of the game is an asset to the Zimbabwe batting lineup.

With the ball, Blessing Muzarabani is the match-winner. He is second on the overall wicket-taking charts in this tournament. His pace, his height, and his ability to vary his delivery length make him a constant threat.

Brad Evans partners Muzarabani with pace. Together they have claimed 21 wickets in the tournament. But against South Africa’s batting depth, they will need to bowl to their very best to make any impression.

Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza offer spin on what will likely be a turning Delhi surface. Their accuracy can restrict scoring in the middle overs if conditions assist them.

Zimbabwe’s best hope against South Africa is a repeat of Bennett’s magic — a single player rising above the occasion and producing something unforgettable. The team’s collective cannot match South Africa. But an individual can.

Key Zimbabwe Statistics

• Brian Bennett: 277 runs in 5 matches, dismissed once — tournament’s most consistent batter
• Blessing Muzarabani: Second on the overall wicket-takers list — pace threat in any conditions
• Brad Evans + Muzarabani: 21 wickets combined — Zimbabwe’s primary bowling threat

Team Squads

South Africa Full Squad

Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Jason Smith

Zimbabwe Full Squad

Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer, Wellington Masakadza, Ben Curran, Clive Madande

Probable Playing XI

South Africa XI	Zimbabwe XI
Aiden Markram (c)	Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk)
Quinton de Kock (wk)	Brian Bennett
Ryan Rickelton	Dion Myers
Dewald Brevis	Ryan Burl
David Miller	Sikandar Raza (c)
Tristan Stubbs	Tony Munyonga
Marco Jansen	Tashinga Musekiwa
Corbin Bosch	Brad Evans
Anrich Nortje	Graeme Cremer
Keshav Maharaj	Blessing Muzarabani
Kwena Maphaka	Richard Ngarava

Fantasy Team XI — SA vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction

Role	Players
Wicket-keeper	Quinton de Kock (C)
Batters	Aiden Markram (VC), Brian Bennett, David Miller
All-Rounders	Marco Jansen, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl
Bowlers	Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Blessing Muzarabani

This Fantasy XI is built around South Africa’s dominance and Zimbabwe’s individual star performers. Quinton de Kock is the captain pick. He is explosive from ball one and in irresistible form at the top of the South Africa order.

Aiden Markram takes the vice-captaincy. He is the tournament’s leading batter from South Africa with 264 runs at average 66. His consistency makes him the safest pick in this XI.

Brian Bennett is the must-pick from Zimbabwe. His 277 tournament runs and strike rate of 136 give him a high ceiling even against South Africa’s strong bowling attack. David Miller adds death-overs hitting power.

Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje cover South Africa’s pace options. Keshav Maharaj brings spin variety. Blessing Muzarabani is the lone Zimbabwe bowler worth selecting — his wicket-taking ability is genuine even against top sides.

Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl cover the all-rounder slots, contributing with both bat and ball in the middle overs.

Captain & Vice-Captain Choices

• Captain: Quinton de Kock — explosive opener, wicket-keeper bonus points, consistent run-scorer throughout this tournament
• Vice-Captain: Aiden Markram — 264 tournament runs, average 66, strike rate 178.37 — South Africa’s most reliable batter

Players to Avoid in Fantasy

• Kagiso Rabada — likely to be rested ahead of the semi-finals; do not risk selecting a player who may not feature in the final XI
• Lungi Ngidi — same rotation risk as Rabada; South Africa’s coaching staff have flagged the possibility of resting premier bowlers for this fixture

Also Check: Get The Best Fantasy Prediction From Cricket Experts

Favourite Team — South Africa (Why?)

South Africa are not just favourites — they are near-certainties to win this match. Six wins from six games. Perfect. Undefeated. Clinical in every department.

Their batting goes nine or ten deep. Every player in their lineup has the ability to score at a strike rate above 140. Their bowling is varied, experienced, and match-hardened.

Zimbabwe have been outclassed in both Super 8 games and their bowling has leaked runs against every powerful batting lineup. South Africa’s batting is the most powerful unit in this tournament.

Even with possible squad rotation and key bowlers rested, South Africa have enough depth to win this comfortably.

• South Africa are unbeaten in all six T20 World Cup 2026 matches — the only side in the tournament with a perfect record
• Markram’s 264 runs at average 66 and strike rate 178 give SA the most destructive batting combination at the top of the order
• Jansen’s 11 wickets at 16.72 average make him the most consistent wicket-taker in the South Africa squad
• South Africa hold a 7-0 record in T20Is against Zimbabwe — psychological dominance that adds to an already overwhelming advantage

South Africa T20 International History

Matches	Won	Lost	No Result	Tie
223	123	97	3	0

South Africa have played 223 T20 internationals, winning 123 at a win rate of 55%. They have featured consistently in World Cup semi-finals and finals, and this 2026 edition sees them at the peak of their T20 powers.

Zimbabwe T20 International History

Matches	Won	Lost	No Result	Tie
191	70	118	3	0

Zimbabwe have played 191 T20 internationals, winning 70 at a win rate of 37%. Despite their record, Zimbabwe’s performances in this 2026 T20 World Cup — particularly in the group stage — have shown genuine improvement and the emergence of genuine world-class talent.

South Africa vs Zimbabwe Head-to-Head

Total Matches	South Africa Won	Zimbabwe Won	No Result
8	7	0	1

South Africa and Zimbabwe have faced each other eight times in T20 International cricket. South Africa have won seven of those encounters. One match ended in no result. Zimbabwe have not beaten South Africa in T20I cricket.

The 7-0 winning record reflects South Africa’s total dominance in this head-to-head rivalry. In World Cup situations, South Africa have always been the vastly superior side. There is no head-to-head indicator that suggests Zimbabwe can reverse that trend in Delhi on Sunday.

Pitch Report — Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi typically produces a surface that assists spin bowlers as the match progresses. Early on, the pitch offers reasonable pace and some assistance for seam movement. But as the game continues, the ball grips and turns — creating challenges for batters in the middle overs.

Average first innings T20I scores at this venue sit around 155-165. Teams batting first have held an advantage in recent matches here. South Africa’s attack, featuring Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch, will be well suited to these conditions.

Weather Report

Condition	Forecast
Temperature	24–28°C
Humidity	45–55%
Rain Chances	5%
Wind	Light breeze
Sky	Clear to partly cloudy

Delhi in early March is warm and largely dry. Temperatures around 24-28°C at the 3:00 PM IST start make for excellent playing conditions. Rain probability is very low at 5%. Clear skies are expected throughout. A full 40-over contest is the near-certain outcome. The dry and warm conditions will assist spin bowlers as the innings progresses.

Broadcast Details

The South Africa vs Zimbabwe Super 8 T20 World Cup 2026 match will be broadcast live in India on Star Sports Network. Live streaming is available on JioHotstar — India’s premier cricket streaming platform. International viewers should consult their regional ICC broadcast partners. Highlights will be available on ICC’s official digital channels after the conclusion of the match.

Toss Prediction

Zimbabwe are predicted to win the toss in this 51st Super 8 fixture. Based on the Delhi pitch’s spin-friendly nature and the advantage of bowling first in dry conditions, the toss-winning captain is likely to choose to field. If Zimbabwe win the toss and bowl first, they will be looking to restrict South Africa and then chase. However, South Africa’s batting depth makes that strategy high-risk regardless of conditions.

Toss Prediction: Zimbabwe to win the toss and elect to bowl first.

Probable Top Batsman & Bowler

Aiden Markram is the leading candidate for top run-scorer. His tournament average of 66 and strike rate above 178 make him the most dangerous batter in this fixture. Quinton de Kock is the alternative — his explosive opening approach means he can outscore Markram in any given innings.

David Miller is the wildcard. He bats at a strike rate above 160 and has the ability to score 40-50 off 25 balls in the death overs. His inclusion always carries century upside in the right conditions.

For Zimbabwe, Brian Bennett is their only genuine top-scorer candidate. His 97* in the last match showed his ability to produce world-class innings at this level. If he fires, Zimbabwe have a chance of posting something competitive.

With the ball, Marco Jansen is South Africa’s standout — 11 wickets at 16.72 average tells you everything. Keshav Maharaj on a Delhi turner is another major threat. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani is the most likely wicket-taker. His pace troubles every batting lineup at this level.

South Africa vs Zimbabwe Winning Chances

Team	Win %	Why They Can Win	Why They Might Lose
South Africa	95%	Unbeaten in 6 games, strongest squad, Markram 264 runs, Jansen 11 wickets, zero pressure on them	Possible rotation of key bowlers; resting Rabada/Ngidi could reduce bowling firepower slightly
Zimbabwe	5%	Bennett in brilliant form (277 runs), Muzarabani dangerous with the ball, nothing to lose attitude	Lost to WI by 107 runs and India by 72 runs, SA unbeaten in 7 T20Is vs Zimbabwe, bowling hammered

Score Prediction

If South Africa Bat First	If Zimbabwe Bat First
178+	140+

Also, once the toss takes place, we might modify the Today Match Prediction as per the playing XIs. Please check this blog after the toss for the updated Prediction.

FAQ – SA vs ZIM 51st Match, Super 8 T20

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