Zimbabwe vs South Africa: Live Scores, Results & Next Match
Zimbabwe and South Africa’s cricket rivalry tells a stark story — South Africa has won all nine completed T20 Internationals since 2010. For fans tracking live scores, upcoming fixtures, or World Cup encounters, here is what verified records show and what to watch as these southern African neighbours continue to cross paths in international sport.
U20 Rugby Result: Zimbabwe 33-15 South Africa · Test Cricket Margin: South Africa innings win by 236 runs · T20 World Cup Match: 51st Super Eights, Group 1 · Football H2H: Available on Flashscore · Next T20WC Fixture: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Quick snapshot
- South Africa has won all 9 T20I matches against Zimbabwe (AiScore Cricket H2H)
- 2026 T20WC Super 8: SA 154/5 beat Zim 153/7 by 5 wickets (Sofascore match centre)
- Sikandar Raza named Player of the Match with 73 runs and 3/29 (NDTV Sports match report)
- Exact next cricket fixture dates beyond T20 World Cup 2026
- Rugby test match schedule between the two nations
- Live score availability for future Zimbabwe vs South Africa matches
- Most recent: March 1, 2026 — T20WC Super 8 at Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi
- Previous: July 14, 2025 — Harare T20I, SA won by 5 wickets
- Historical: Zimbabwe competed in Rugby World Cups 1987 and 1991
- South Africa advances to face New Zealand in T20WC 2026 semifinals
- Football World Cup Qualifier on October 6, 2025 (CAF)
- Next major cricket tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 ongoing
Zimbabwe vs South Africa today match live
For fans tracking live action between these two teams, the most reliable platforms aggregate scores in real time from official governing bodies.
Live streaming options
The ICC Official match centre website provides official match centres for all international cricket fixtures. For cricket matches, platforms like Sofascore live score platform offer live score updates alongside predictions and detailed scorecards.
Current status
As of April 2026, no live cricket matches are currently in progress between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The most recent encounter was the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match on March 1 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where South Africa won by 5 wickets.
For real-time tracking, bookmark official ICC match pages and verified sports aggregators — avoid third-party sites without clear institutional backing, as live data can lag by several minutes.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa today time
Match timings between Zimbabwe and South Africa depend entirely on the tournament or series schedule, with venues rotating between Harare, South African cities, and ICC event host nations.
Match start times
For the March 1, 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 match, the scheduled start was 9:30 AM UTC at Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi venue details. Time zones for Zimbabwe (CAT, UTC+2) and South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) align, so match times are identical for both nations — a convenience for fans across both countries.
Time zones
Both Zimbabwe and South Africa operate on Central Africa Time (UTC+2), meaning there is no conversion required when following live score updates. When matches are hosted elsewhere — such as the 2022 T20 World Cup in Hobart, Australia — local times differ significantly from the southern African standard.
Upsides
- Same time zone simplifies scheduling for dual-country fans
- Official ICC and broadcaster schedules provide reliable timings
- Major tournaments offer consistent match windows
Downsides
- No regular bilateral cricket series between the nations
- Rugby test match schedule remains sparse
- Occasional ICC events shift to inconvenient viewing hours
Zimbabwe vs South Africa live score
Live score tracking for Zimbabwe versus South Africa matches relies on aggregated cricket databases, with scorecard details and innings breakdowns available from multiple outlets.
Score updates
The Sofascore match centre provided ball-by-ball updates for the March 1, 2026 encounter, showing South Africa reaching 154/5 in 17.5 overs after Zimbabwe had posted 153/7 from their 20 overs. At drinks, South Africa sat at 126/5 from 14 overs, having crossed 100 runs in the 10.2 over mark.
Key moments
NDTV Sports detailed match report reported Sikandar Raza as the Player of the Match, scoring 73 runs off 43 balls and taking 3 wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first — a decision that ultimately did not change the outcome, with South Africa chasing successfully in under 18 overs.
Sikandar Raza’s all-round performance highlights Zimbabwe’s competitive depth despite the overall H2H record — Raza has now established himself as the pivotal figure in Zimbabwe’s limited-overs cricket.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Cricket
Cricket dominates the competitive narrative between Zimbabwe and South Africa, with T20 Internationals forming the bulk of recent encounters.
Recent matches
The head-to-head record in T20Is tells a clear story: according to AiScore Cricket H2H statistics, South Africa has won all nine completed T20I matches against Zimbabwe, with Zimbabwe managing zero victories. The aggregate run differential is significant — South Africa averages 314.2 runs per innings against Zimbabwe compared to Zimbabwe’s 193.2.
On July 14, 2025, Zimbabwe posted 141/6 in their 20 overs at Harare Sports Club, with South Africa reaching 142/5 in just 15.5 overs to win by 5 wickets. The March 1, 2026 Super 8 fixture followed a similar script: Zimbabwe’s 153/7 proved insufficient against South Africa’s 154/5, again sealed by 5 wickets.
H2H stats
The table below shows the pattern of recent T20I encounters between the two nations, with South Africa consistently winning by 5 wickets after posting chaseable targets.
| Match Date | Venue | Zimbabwe Score | South Africa Score | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 | Delhi (T20WC Super 8) | 153/7 (20) | 154/5 (17.5) | SA won by 5 wkts | Sofascore |
| July 14, 2025 | Harare | 141/6 (20) | 142/5 (15.5) | SA won by 5 wkts | NDTV Sports |
| October 24, 2022 | Hobart (T20WC) | 5/79 (9 ov) | 0/5 (3 ov) | Abandoned | BigBashBoard |
| October 9-14, 2018 | South Africa | Varies | Varies | Series matches | BigBashBoard |
The pattern is consistent: Zimbabwe consistently posts competitive totals in the 140-160 range, but South Africa’s batting depth consistently answers the challenge. Individual standout performers include Pieter Mulder, who has scored 531 runs against Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s top scorer against the Proteas is Sean Williams with 257 runs.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa next match
Looking ahead, cricket fans have clear reference points for upcoming Zimbabwe vs South Africa fixtures, with football World Cup qualifiers also scheduled.
Upcoming fixtures
The most immediate upcoming encounter is the World Cup Qualifier football match scheduled for October 6, 2025, between the two CAF (Confederation of African Football) nations. For cricket, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 official tournament page continues as South Africa progresses to face New Zealand in the semifinals.
Tickets info
For ICC tournament matches, tickets are available through official tournament channels and authorised ticketing partners. The ICC Official website tournament hub is the primary source for purchasing authentic match tickets, though availability varies by venue and fixture importance.
“Zimbabwe end their memorable campaign with three straight losses but they head back home with their heads held high.”
— ICC Official Match Report
Rugby: A Different Chapter
While cricket shows South African dominance, rugby tells a more nuanced historical story — one rooted in political history rather than current competitive balance.
World Cup history
According to Wikipedia rugby history records, Zimbabwe competed in the Rugby World Cups of 1987 and 1991, taking South Africa’s place due to international sanctions against the apartheid-era regime. This history means Zimbabwe rugby has a unique connection to South Africa’s absence from early World Cups.
No direct rugby test matches between the two nations appear in official records, per the Wikipedia list of South Africa rugby union test matches. Zimbabwe’s rugby programme operates at a lower tier internationally, with achievements including a third-place finish in the 2016 Cup of Nations per RugbyArchive team achievements database.
Recent U20 encounter
A notable recent result comes from youth rugby: Zimbabwe’s U20 side defeated South Africa’s U20 team 33-15 in a match held in Lusaka, part of the Zone VI IHF Trophy. This result, while from age-grade competition, demonstrates Zimbabwe’s competitive rugby ability at a development level.
“T20 World Cup: South Africa Beat Zimbabwe By 5 Wickets, To Face NZ In Semis.”
— NDTV Sports Live Blog
Timeline of key encounters
The timeline below traces the major sporting encounters between Zimbabwe and South Africa across cricket and rugby, from apartheid-era rugby participation to recent T20 Internationals.
| Date/Period | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 and 1991 | Zimbabwe participates in Rugby World Cup replacing SA due to apartheid | Wikipedia |
| October 7-9, 2010 | T20I Series Zimbabwe in South Africa | BigBashBoard |
| September 19, 2012 | ICC T20 World Cup match abandoned/part Zim ahead | BigBashBoard |
| October 9-14, 2018 | T20I Series Zimbabwe in South Africa | BigBashBoard |
| October 24, 2022 | T20WC Hobart match, Zimbabwe ahead when abandoned | BigBashBoard |
| July 14, 2025 | Match 1 Harare T20I, SA wins by 5 wickets | NDTV Sports |
| March 1, 2026 | T20WC Super 8 Match 11, SA wins by 5 wickets | Sofascore |
The implication: Cricket has become the dominant venue for Zimbabwe vs South Africa competition, while rugby encounters remain sparse at senior international level.
Football: A Separate Rivalry
For completeness, the football rivalry between Zimbabwe and South Africa operates independently of the cricket and rugby tracks.
The football head-to-head record shows a more competitive picture than cricket, with South Africa holding a moderate advantage across eleven matches since 2008.
| Sport | Zimbabwe Wins | South Africa Wins | Draws | Total Matches | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket (T20I) | 0 | 9 | 0 (1 N/R) | 9 | AiScore Cricket H2H |
| Football (since 2008) | 2 | 6 | 3 | 11 | AiScore Soccer H2H |
| Rugby (Test) | Not recorded | Not recorded | No direct H2H | 0 | Wikipedia |
Football shows a more competitive picture: South Africa holds a 6-2 advantage with 3 draws across 11 matches since 2008, per AiScore Soccer H2H records. The October 6, 2025 World Cup Qualifier (CAF) represents the next opportunity for Zimbabwe to narrow that gap.
For South African football fans, the upcoming qualifier offers a realistic chance to extend their advantage — Zimbabwe’s qualification prospects have been inconsistent in recent CAF cycles.
The comparison across sports reveals a clear pattern: South Africa’s broader sporting infrastructure produces consistent results across cricket, football, and rugby at the elite level. Zimbabwe’s cricketers punch above their weight in individual brilliance — Sikandar Raza’s performances against top-tier opposition prove that — but the systemic gap in resources and depth creates the lopsided head-to-head records.
Related reading: India vs South Africa T20 results
South Africa claimed a tense five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 summary at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
What sports do Zimbabwe and South Africa compete in most?
Cricket T20 Internationals form the most frequent competitive encounters, with football World Cup qualifiers also scheduled. Rugby test matches between the senior national teams are not currently on the official schedule.
Who won the latest Test match between Zimbabwe and South Africa?
The most recent cricket match was an ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 fixture on March 1, 2026, where South Africa won by 5 wickets. In longer formats, South Africa won a Test match by innings and 236 runs. South Africa has won all nine completed T20I matches against Zimbabwe.
Where to check live scores for Zimbabwe vs South Africa?
The ICC Official website provides the most authoritative match centres. Sports aggregators like Sofascore offer real-time ball-by-ball updates, while Flashscore tracks football results.
Is there a T20 World Cup match between Zimbabwe and South Africa soon?
The most recent T20 World Cup encounter was March 1, 2026 in Delhi. South Africa has advanced to face New Zealand in the semifinals of the 2026 tournament. No further Zimbabwe vs South Africa fixtures have been announced within the current T20 World Cup schedule.
What was the score in the U20 rugby match?
Zimbabwe’s U20 rugby team defeated South Africa’s U20 side 33-15 in a match held in Lusaka as part of the Zone VI IHF Trophy. This youth-level result demonstrates Zimbabwe’s competitive ability in rugby development programmes.
How does Zimbabwe vs South Africa perform in football?
In international football since 2008, South Africa holds a 6-2 advantage with 3 draws across 11 matches per AiScore Soccer H2H. The next scheduled encounter is a World Cup Qualifier (CAF) on October 6, 2025.
Are there tickets available for upcoming matches?
For ICC tournament matches, official tickets are available through the ICC Official website. Football qualifier tickets would be available through CAF’s authorised channels closer to the October 2025 fixture date.
What is the overall head-to-head cricket record?
In T20 International cricket, South Africa has won all nine completed matches against Zimbabwe (with one no-result). South Africa’s average innings score of 314.2 runs far exceeds Zimbabwe’s 193.2 average. No Zimbabwe batsman has scored a century against South Africa in this format.
For South African cricket fans, the dominance over Zimbabwe is simply one data point in a much larger international campaign — the real tests await in the semifinal against New Zealand. For Zimbabwean supporters, the Sikandar Raza era represents genuine competitive possibility, even if the head-to-head record continues to favour the Proteas. South Africa will next face New Zealand while Zimbabwe will seek to build on individual brilliance in future tournaments.
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