HAMBANTOTA (Sri Lanka), Sept 19: High-flying South Africa batsman Hashim Amla said his team was ready for their African neighbours Zimbabwe in their Group ‘C’ match of the World Twenty20 here on Thursday.

Zimbabwe were smarting from a big 82-run defeat at the hands of hosts Sri Lanka, with mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis registering best figures of 6-8 in all Twenty20 Internationals in the tournament opener here on Tuesday.

Amla, 29, said Zimbabwe will come down hard in their last chance to stay in the tournament.

“Zimbabwe are a professional team, they must want to improve on their performance but we are coming well prepared so whatever they bring to the party, obviously we need to be better than that,” Amla said on Wednesday.

Labelled as perennial ‘chokers’ for their slumps in major events since being readmitted to international cricket in 1992, South Africa look to end their 14-year title wait after winning the ICC’s knock-out tournament in 1998.

For that, Amla thinks, a winning start was important.

“I think we need to start well, each T20 game is different and getting a victory for a good start, that’s what we are looking for. That has been our aim, fortunately we’ve had a good preparation coming here,” said Amla.

Led by the gutsy A.B. de Villiers, South Africa boost of a strong batting line-up with Jacques Kallis as their mainstay besides having a varied attack with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel spearheading the pace department and former captain Johan Botha and Robin Petersen as quality spinners.

Amla said South Africa’s recent showings in all three forms of the game have lifted their confidence.

“A lot of people have said that there are few favourites [in the event], suddenly we take confidence that we have played good cricket over the last year or so but it’s too early to tell that who the favourites are,” said Amla.

Team manager Mohammad Moosajee said all-rounder Albie Morkel will give a fitness test after suffering lower back spasm.

Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher admitted his team needed a lift after defeat in the first match.

“Obviously it’s our last chance to progress in the tournament and to do so we will have to put in a vastly improved performance than against Sri Lanka, which after all the hard work was a big disappointment,” Butcher, former England Test opener, said.

“We have to pick ourselves and be positive against what we know is a very good side. We need to put in a performance we can all be proud of,” said Butcher of Zimbabwe, who crashed out of the World Twenty20 in 2007 and 2010 in first rounds.

Teams (from): SOUTH AFRICA: A.B. de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, J.P. Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

ZIMBABWE: Brendan Taylor (captain), Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu, Richard Muzhange, Brian Vitori, Prosper Utseya, Forster Mutizwa.

Umpires: Steve Davis (Australia) and Richard Kettleborough (England). TV umpire: Ian Gould (England). Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).—AFP