South Africa’s World Test Championship-winning skipper Temba Bavuma has backed pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada to deliver an impactful performance ahead of the semifinal clash of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Bavuma spoke to ANI on the sidelines of the Proteas’ final Super Eight clash against Zimbabwe at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Rabada, who played a crucial role in Proteas’ maiden WTC title win last year with a nine-wicket haul (including a fifer) against Australia at Lord’s, has struggled to live up to his high standards during this T20 World Cup.

The 30-year-old right-armer, who is just 10 short of becoming the fifth South African with 600 international wickets, has taken just four wickets so far in six matches at an average of 47.25 and an economy rate of 7.98. While his spell of 2/22 against West Indies in a crucial Super Eight clash was exceptional, he has had three wicketless games against India, UAE and New Zealand.

– ANI