Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 26: Skipper Aiden Markram produced a commanding unbeaten 82 to guide South Africa national cricket team to a dominant nine-wicket victory over the West Indies cricket team in their Super 8 clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing 177, South Africa made light work of the target, reaching 177/1 in just 16.1 overs. The win keeps the Proteas unbeaten in the tournament and pushes them closer to sealing a semifinal berth. West Indies, meanwhile, must beat India in their final Super 8 fixture to stay alive in the competition.
Markram, De Kock Set the Tone
South Africa’s chase began explosively, with Markram and Quinton de Kock taking 11 runs off the opening over. The pair capitalised on the powerplay, racing to 69 without loss in six overs.
West Indies found a breakthrough in the eighth over when Roston Chase dismissed De Kock for a brisk 47 off 24 balls, an innings studded with four fours and four sixes. However, the dismissal did little to stem the flow of runs.
Markram continued to dominate, bringing up his half-century in just 27 deliveries. He finished unbeaten on 82, striking seven fours and four sixes. Ryan Rickelton provided solid support with an unbeaten 45 as South Africa cruised home with 23 balls to spare.
Holder, Shepherd Rescue West Indies
Earlier, after being put in to bat, West Indies endured a rollercoaster innings. Shai Hope began aggressively, scoring 16 in the first over, while Brandon King struck three consecutive boundaries in the next.
But South Africa’s pace attack turned the game swiftly. Kagiso Rabada removed Hope and Shimron Hetmyer in the third over, and Lungi Ngidi followed up with two more wickets as West Indies slumped to 52/4 by the end of the powerplay.
The slide continued before former captain Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd staged a recovery with an 89-run partnership. Shepherd struck an unbeaten 52 off 37 balls, while Holder narrowly missed a half-century, falling for 49 off 31 deliveries.
Despite their late resurgence, West Indies’ total of 176/8 proved insufficient against a clinical South African batting display.
Brief Scores
West Indies: 176/8 in 20 overs (Romario Shepherd 52*, Jason Holder 49; Lungi Ngidi 3/30, Kagiso Rabada 2/22, Corbin Bosch 2/31)
South Africa: 177/1 in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 82*, Quinton de Kock 47, Ryan Rickelton 45*; Roston Chase 1/46)
South Africa won by nine wickets.