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Delhi – Sikandar Raza won the toss and, without much hesitation, chose to bat. The Zimbabwe captain admitted the call was shaped by a lengthening injury list, saying his side “needed to control what we can with the bat first”.
Zimbabwe’s bowling has taken the bigger hit. Richard Ngarava’s lower-back niggle has finally ruled him out, so Graeme Cremer returns to the XI. Tashinga Musekiwa’s ankle “blew up overnight”, Raza revealed, bringing wicketkeeper-bat Clive Madande into the middle order. Tinotenda Maposa also makes way, with Wellington Masakadza adding a second spin option.
Aiden Markram conceded he would have batted too, mindful that three of South Africa’s last four World Cup wins have come while chasing. The Proteas, already assured of a semi-final berth, have chosen to rest the heavy artillery. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj are wrapped in cotton-wool; Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje and George Linde step in.
Assistant coach Ashwell Prince repeated his long-held view that “opening is Markram’s best position”, though the skipper stays at No.1 only until Quinton de Kock joins him. Batting coach JP Duminy called Tristan Stubbs a “selfless character”, explaining the youngster’s switch to a floating role.
On a dry Feroz Shah Kotla surface, 170 has been par this fortnight. Both captains talked up the importance of adapting after the powerplay: Zimbabwe need a platform, South Africa a tune-up.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (capt), Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Kwena Maphaka, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje.
First ball is due at 19:00 local.
