Ahmedabad witnessed South Africa chasing down West Indies’ total of 177 with nine wickets in hand, maintaining their unbeaten record and asserting dominance in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup.
Aiden Markram’s 46-ball 82, supported by Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 45 off 28 balls, ensured South Africa remained firmly in control, neutralizing West Indies’ late recovery led by Holder and Shepherd’s 89-run partnership.
Early strikes from Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada triggered West Indies’ collapse to 4 for 14, while Proteas bowlers like Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen exploited aggressive batting, conceding minimal opportunities throughout.
Markram and De Kock Set the Pace
Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock provided a strong opening partnership, racing to 53 for no loss within five overs, effectively neutralizing the West Indies bowling attack in the early powerplay.
Even after losing De Kock in the eighth over, Markram continued his aggressive batting, while Ryan Rickelton ensured South Africa required only 29 runs from 40 balls at one stage.
Markram reached his fifty in just 27 balls, demonstrating impeccable timing and precision against a bowling attack struggling to contain his power on the tacky Ahmedabad pitch.
West Indies’ Recovery Falls Short
Romario Shepherd struck an unbeaten 52, his maiden T20I half-century, while Holder’s 49 provided some resistance, but South Africa’s disciplined bowling limited the recovery to 176 for 8.
West Indies’ strategy of hitting boundaries at every opportunity paid off briefly, particularly in the 18th over against Marco Jansen, who conceded 23 runs from Holder’s aggressive stroke play.
Brandon King suffered a hand injury attempting a spectacular catch at cover, highlighting West Indies’ misfortune in the field and their inability to capitalize on crucial wicket-taking chances.
South Africa’s Bowling Dominance
Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Corbin Bosch bowled with precision, exploiting West Indies’ misjudgments on the tacky wicket, while Marco Jansen’s pace and bounce troubled the middle order consistently.
Rabada struck twice in quick succession, including removing Shai Hope for 16, reinforcing South Africa’s dominance, while Ngidi captured three key wickets, including Shimron Hetmyer, to dismantle the top order.
Even with some missed chances, South Africa’s bowlers ensured that West Indies’ high-risk approach in chasing the game backfired, enabling the Proteas to maintain control from start to finish.
Implications for the Super Eight
South Africa remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament, taking a crucial step toward semi-final qualification, while West Indies must defeat India in their final match to stay in contention.
