MELBOURNE: As the Super 12 phase comes to an end with a flurry of games on Sunday, South Africa and India will try to clinch spots in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with victories over cricketing minnows with a 33-run loss to Pakistan on Thursday in Sydney, South Africa suffered their first significant defeat.
Temba Bavuma’s team will try to bounce back against the already-out Netherlands in the opening game at Adelaide Oval.
South Africa would finish in the top two of Group 2 with a victory and move on to the semifinals the following week. On the other hand, a loss would result in them missing the knockout stages for the third straight T20 World Cup, giving Pakistan and Bangladesh a chance to advance.
India will be heavy underdogs to hold off Zimbabwe in the evening match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and clinch the top spot. India leads the group with six points, one more than the Proteas. On Saturday, all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin told reporters, “We need to be as clinical as possible.
“We are aware that no team is an underdog. We cannot enter and anticipate that they will fall.”
The Netherlands will be supported before the second leg of the Adelaide Oval doubleheader between third-placed Pakistan and fourth-placed Bangladesh. The winner will advance to the semifinals if the Proteas falter because both Asian teams are tied with four points, one fewer than South Africa.
But if South Africa wins, it’s likely that only Pakistan would still be in the running because Bangladesh’s net run rate (-1.276) is far worse than India’s (+0.73). Pakistan will be expected to keep the semi-final race alive until at least the final match after winning their last eight completed T20 matches against Bangladesh. Pakistan will also be hoping that Zimbabwe can pull off the unthinkable against Rohit Sharma’s India.
Pakistani batsman Shan Masood said, “You don’t need any motivation, whether it’s the World Cup or not. “I think every person in this camp understands how much just playing for your country and donning that shirt means to them.” Zimbabwe played the role of a giant killer by defeating Pakistan in their Super 12 match, but they were eliminated from the competition after an embarrassing loss to the Netherlands.
The opportunity to remove India’s talisman Virat Kohli from the lineup, according to Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, should be enough to inspire his bowlers. He questioned, “How often do you get the chance to put Virat Kohli in your pocket?
“Our fast bowlers will undoubtedly be ready to go tomorrow, in my opinion.
“Obviously, the victory over Pakistan has greatly boosted our confidence that we can defeat any team in the competition.
That won’t change going into tomorrow’s game, in my opinion.
