T20 Cricket World Cup Zimbabwe v South Africa Tips: Markram and De Kock double dutch delight

• South Africa look to close out group
• Avoiding England in their minds for semi
• Delhi pitch one for the batters
• De Kock and Markram so strong
• Zimbabwe batting reliable
• For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

Zimbabwe v South Africa
Sunday 1 March, 09.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Zimbabwe v South Africa T20WC team news

Zimbabwe, unsurprisingly, have found the leap to the Super Eights tough. They were outclassed by West Indies and then beaten by a whopping 72 runs by India. The latter is not quite as bad as it sounds though.

On a flat Chennai wicket their bowlers took tap to concede 256. But the Zimbabwe response was strong, losing only six wickets with Brian Bennett not out just short of a century. Bennett should be in the mix for franchise deals after an excellent tournament.

Right-arm quick Tintotenda Maposa came in for Graeme Cremer, the spinner, for that game and they could switch back. Maposa bowled one over for 20 and they will surely opt for Cremer's control.

Probable Zimbabwe XI: Bennett, Marumani, Myers, Raza, Burl, Munyonga, Musekiwa, Evans, Cremer, Muzarabani, Ngarava

South Africa are looking to maintain their 100% record to ensure they win the group. They are clearly the best side in it at the moment and they will surely resist the temptation to test bench strength.

Messing around with momentum is so often a bad idea in the franchise leagues so South Africa should stick with the same XI which proved too strong for West Indies last time.

Probable SA XI: Markram, De Kock, Rickleton, Brevis, Miller, Stubbs, Jansen, Bosch, Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi

Zimbabwe v South Africa T20WC pitch report

This is the sixth game played at Delhi but any fears of a used surface should be allayed by the fact that the last one was 10 days ago. Mismatches have meant the wicket has been hard to call but India, busting 200 against Namibia, and South Africa chasing 122 inside 14 overs against UAE saw strokemakers hit through the line with abandon. This is a day-night game and there is no suggestion of a toss bias.

Batting first, South Africa will be expected to bust 220 - and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the par line as high in the Exchange. Zimbabwe's batting, which has been solid without Sikandar Raza firing, might be underestimated with quotes in that 160 region.

Zimbabwe v South Africa T20WC match prediction

This is just the sort of match that South Africa would lose, to remind us all that they are not, in fact, some well-oiled machine destroying everything in their path. But there is really nothing in the conditions, looking up or down, which should assist Zimbabwe in reducing what is a sizeable gulf.

The only impediment to the South Africa winning sequence is their own complacency. If they focus and are aggressive they should win comfortably, thus setting up a semi-final against either New Zealand or Pakistan. Neither of those sides will perturb South Africa. England might.

With prohibitive match odds for this one, the best play to keep South Africa on side is the 6/52.20 with Sportsbook that they win and both teams score 160. As stated, Zimbabwe have shown mettle with the willow and there should be no demons in the wicket.

Zimbabwe v South Africa player tips

As discussed previously as a strategy, in one-sided games it can pay to treat the hot favourite's top runscorer market and man of the match market as closely related. One can win the other. Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock are in terrific form, and dutching the pair to pick up the gong at 5/16.00 and 11/26.50 is absolutely fine. However, we might play a little safer and just bet the pair for top match bats at 4/15.00 each, ruling out all the bowlers from the equation. 

Now read Ed's Ultimate Guide to the T20 World Cup