Cricket Feb 28, 2026

T20 World Cup: India stay in semi-final hunt after beating Zimbabwe with South Africa's knockout place confirmed

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
T20 World Cup: India stay in semi-final hunt after beating Zimbabwe with South Africa's knockout place confirmed

Defending champions India smashed the second-highest score across all Men's T20 World Cups - 256-4 - as they thumped Zimbabwe by 72 runs to stay in the hunt for a semi-final place.

Defeat in Chennai would have seen the co-hosts and title favourites eliminated, having begun their Super 8s campaign with a heavy loss to South Africa over the weekend.

However, India bounced back emphatically from that poor result to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday (1.30pm UK) for the second qualification spot from Group 1.

Suryakumar Yadav's side's total was behind only Sri Lanka's 260-6 against Kenya in 2007 in the tournament's record books.

Zimbabwe, now out of semi-final contention after two defeats from two, replied with 184-6 as Brian Bennett struck 97 not out off 59 balls and India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh bagged 3-24.

coupled with India's victory over Zimbabwe, guaranteed the Proteas a place in the knockouts.

India cracked 17 sixes and as many fours after being inserted by Zimbabwe.

Abhishek Sharma (55 off 30 balls) top scored as he played his first knock of note in the tournament after three ducks to start and then an innings of 15 against South Africa.

India's top six batters all contributed, though, including Hardik Pandya (50no off 23), Suryakumar (33 off 13) - who was dropped on eight by Blessing Muzarabani at deep backward square - and Tilak Varma (44no off 16).

Abhishek and Sanju Samson (24 off 15) slammed 48 off 23 for the first wicket, while Ishan Kishan (38 off 24) and Abhishek plundered 72 off 42 for the second before the innings ended with an unbroken alliance of 84 from 31 between Hardik and Tilak.

Bennett then struck six sixes and eight fours for Zimbabwe, putting on 72 off 42 deliveries with captain Sikandar Raza (31 off 21) for the third wicket, before Raza holed out off Arshdeep at long-on.

Zimbabwe will now look for their first win of the Super 8s when they take on South Africa in Delhi on Sunday (9.30am UK).

Watch every game from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup live on Your Site Cricket, including the competition final on Sunday March 8. or

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

T20 World Cup, England vs New Zealand LIVE! Latest score, updates, video and pundit analysis from Harry Brook's side's Super 8s game in Colombo

T20 World Cup, England vs New Zealand LIVE! Latest score, updates, video and pundit analysis from Harry Brook's side's Super 8s game in Colombo

Paper Talk: Man Utd & Man City set for Anderson battleRight, let's end this this evening with a quick roundup of some of the biggest stories making Sa...

T20 World Cup permutations: What do India, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand need to reach semi-finals?

T20 World Cup permutations: What do India, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand need to reach semi-finals?

England and South Africa are through to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, with two places in the knockout stage still up for grabs.India and West...

T20 World Cup: South Africa stay perfect with big West Indies win, qualify for semi-finals

T20 World Cup: South Africa stay perfect with big West Indies win, qualify for semi-finals

South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets at the T20 World Cup to maintain their 100 per cent record in the tournament, with the Proteas' semi-fin...

T20 World Cup: England's Rehan Ahmed fires with bat and ball as Harry Brook's side beat New Zealand in Super 8s

T20 World Cup: England's Rehan Ahmed fires with bat and ball as Harry Brook's side beat New Zealand in Super 8s

Rehan Ahmed starred with bat and ball on his T20 World Cup debut as England sealed top spot in their Super 8s pool with a four-wicket win over New Zea...

T20 World Cup: Rehan Ahmed 'adds value' to England after 'upping the ante' in dream debut against New Zealand

T20 World Cup: Rehan Ahmed 'adds value' to England after 'upping the ante' in dream debut against New Zealand

Rehan Ahmed was hailed for upping the ante in a match‑winning performance that saw England pull off a thrilling victory over New Zealand at the T20 Wo...

T20 World Cup: New Zealand dump hosts Sri Lanka out of tournament with crushing Super 8s victory

T20 World Cup: New Zealand dump hosts Sri Lanka out of tournament with crushing Super 8s victory

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 61 runs to knock the co-hosts out of the T20 World Cup and boost their own semi-final hopes.Sri Lanka failed to chase do...