Last Updated on 2 months ago by Charbel Coorey

South Africa will take on Zimbabwe in the 51st match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on 1st March 2026, at 3 PM IST. It’s a dead rubber, as South Africa has already qualified for the playoffs, while Zimbabwe are out.

South Africa is the only undefeated side in the tournament. They have been in phenomenal form as a side with their batters and bowlers performing exceptionally well. Their top three are scoring runs consistently while the bowlers are playing as a unit. 

The likes of Aiden Markram (264 runs), Quinton de Kock (171 runs), Ryan Rickelton (197 runs), and David Miller (146 runs) will be the pillars of their batting, while Lungi Ngidi (11 wickets), Marco Jansen (11 wickets), and Corbin Bosch (9 wickets) will lead the bowling.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe have had a poor Super 8 after an excellent group stage. The difference in their depth and experience was quite visible compared to the other sides, but this has been an inspiring campaign nonetheless. They defeated Australia and Sri Lanka, which is a great sign. 

Brian Bennett (277 runs) scored a brilliant 97* in the last game against India. Sikandar Raza has also played well for his 133 runs. However, can the bowlers, who have conceded two 250+ scores in a row, keep South Africa in check?

Zimbabwe will look to play for pride and end their campaign on a winning note.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 51st Match: SA vs ZIM Probable Playing XIs

South Africa: 1. Aiden Markram (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Ryan Rickelton, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. David Miller, 6. Tristan Stubbs/Jason Smith, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Corbin Bosch, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Keshav Maharaj/George Linde, 11. Lungi Ngidi

Zimbabwe: 1. Briant Bennett, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3. Ryan Burl, 4. Sikandar Raza (c), 5. Dion Myers, 6. Tony Munyonga, 7. Tashinga Musekiwa, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Wellington Masakadza/Tinotenda Maposa, 10. Richard Ngarava, 11. Blessing Muzarabani

Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score is 160 runs, and chasing sides have won four of the five games played here. There will be something on offer for the spinners, but batters will enjoy here, as the wicket will be relatively flatter, and the small boundary dimensions will mean only one thing – runs.

The weather will be clear with no chance of rain, and the temperature will be around 22 degrees Celsius at the start of the game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for SA vs ZIM: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Quinton de Kock scored a quick-fire 47 in the last game. He is averaging 28.50 at a strike rate of 137.90 with one fifty in this World Cup. De Kock hasn’t been at his best, and it’ll be a good time for him to do that ahead of the semi-final. He’ll be a good C/VC choice too. 
• Ryan Rickelton has been in top form for the Proteas. He is a good batter against the spinners and has been very consistent. Rickelton has 197 runs so far, including a fifty. He scored 48* in the last game. Another good C/VC pick.

Key batter picks: 

• Dewlad Brevis will be a good pick from the batting section. He’s been far from his best, but he’s a match-winner on his day, and we saw that against India. He can decimate the spinners and likes to hit sixes for fun.  

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Marco Jansen has been bowling brilliantly. He’s picking up wickets consistently with his pace, bounce, and variations. Jansen has 11 wickets at a strike rate of 10.80. He will trouble the Zimbabwe batters. Try him as C/VC in this match.
• Sikandar Raza has 133 runs and two wickets to his name so far. He’s been in good form in the last few matches and is the best player for his team. Raza will be determined to do well in this game. 
• Aiden Markram is in magnificent form. He is the third-highest run-scorer with 264 runs at an average of 66 and a strike rate of 178.37 with three fifties. He scored a match-winning 86* in the last game. Markram will be the best captain choice for this match.
• Brian Bennett has shown his class in the tournament so far. He has scored runs in almost every game Zimbabwe has played except one. He’s the second highest run-scorer with 277 runs in five games and has been dismissed only once with three fifties to his name. He will be a top C/VC option. 

Key bowler picks: 

• Lungi Ngidi is bullying the batters with his slower delivery. We saw that against India and in the last match against the West Indies. He has 11 wickets at an economy of just 6.80. He will be a top C/VC pick. 
• Blessing Muzarabani has 12 wickets at an economy of 7.80 and a bowling strike rate of 10. He’s picking up wickets in every game, but the fielders will need to support him well if Zimbabwe is to win this game.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Keshav Mahraj/George Linde
• Brad Evans
• Corbin Bosch
• Richard Ngarava

Other Matchups and Facts 

• South Africa is undefeated in the tournament so far. 
• Sikandar Raza vs Lungi Ngidi (T20Is): 0 runs, 1 dismissal in 4 deliveries.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 51st Match: SA vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 51st Match: SA vs ZIM Match Prediction: Who will win?

South Africa will be the clear favourites to win this game, but this tournament so far has taught us that Zimbabwe are not to be taken lightly. But Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on a few batters for the bulk of the scoring, and that can turn out to be the decisive factor in this game.

South Africa to win. 

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.