SA vs WI, T20 World Cup 2026: Aiden Markram fires Proteas past West Indies to boost semi-final hopes

The South African cricket team remained unbeaten in the T20 World Cup 2026 after breezing past the West Indies by nine wickets in its Super 8 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

After electing to field first in their second Super 8 stage game at the same venue, the Protea pacers Lungi Ngidi (3/30), Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Corbin Bosch (2/31) ripped through the West Indies top and middle orders.

However, Jason Holder (49) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out) stitched together the highest eighth-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history to drag their side from 83/7 to 176/8.

Aiden Markram (82 not out off 46) produced a skipper’s knock to make short work of the 177-run chase as the Proteas achieved their target in 16.1 overs.

The win saw South Africa go to the top of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 with four points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 2.890. They are also favourably placed to make the semis.

West Indies flew out of the blocks thanks to Brandon King’s 21 off 11 but the early momentum quickly faded.

Ngidi removed Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer in the third over while Ngidi picked up King and Roston Chase in the next. By the end of four overs, West Indies were in freefall at 43/4.

Wickets of Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell and Matthew Forde left West Indies tottering at 83/7 inside 11 overs.

From there, Holder and Shepherd absorbed pressure before striking decisively at the death. Holder’s 49 off 31 included four boundaries and three maximums while Shepherd’s maiden T20I half-century was laced with three fours and four sixes.

South Africa’s chase of 177 was a cruise from the outset, powered by a commanding opening stand of 95 runs between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock.

Markram and Quinton de Kock matched each other stroke for stroke as South Africa motored to 69/0 by the six-over mark, well ahead of the required rate.

Quinton de Kock (47 off 24) missed out on a fifty after being deceived by a slower one from Chase in the eighth over.

However, Aiden Markram continued his attack, bringing up a 27-ball fifty in the next over. It was his third half-century of the T20 World Cup 2026 and 14th overall. Aiden Markram’s knock included seven fours and four maximums.

An unbeaten 82-run stand between Markram and Ryan Rickleton, who finished not out on 45 off 28, saw the Proteas sail over the line in the 17th over.

This was South Africa’s fifth win over West Indies in six head-to-head meetings at the T20 World Cup.

South Africa’s next match at the T20 World Cup will be against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

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