AHMEDABAD, India – South Africa continued their relentless march through the T20 World Cup 2026, dismantling the West Indies by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. The victory not only maintains the Proteas’ unbeaten streak but also officially secures their place in the semi-finals, leaving the West Indies to face a “do-or-die” showdown against India.
Match Highlights
- West Indies: 176/8 (20 overs)
- South Africa: 177/1 (16.1 overs)
- Result: South Africa won by 9 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match: Aiden Markram (82* off 46 balls)
The Proteas’ Powerplay Masterclass
Chasing 177, South Africa made a statement from the very first ball. Captain Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock took the West Indian attack to task, racing to a 95-run opening stand in just eight overs. De Kock was the aggressor early on, smashing 47 off 24 balls before falling to Roston Chase.
The breakthrough did nothing to slow the momentum. Markram, in sublime form, registered his third half-century of the tournament, finishing on 82 off 46 deliveries*. Alongside him, Ryan Rickelton (45)* played a composed yet attacking role, as the duo chased down the target with nearly four overs to spare.
West Indies’ Top-Order Collapse
Earlier in the day, the West Indies innings was a tale of two halves. After a flying start that saw them reach 29/0 in two overs, a catastrophic collapse followed. Lungi Ngidi (3/30) and Kagiso Rabada (2/22) tore through the top order, at one point leaving the Caribbean side reeling at 83/7.
The Record Recovery
The match was kept alive by a heroic eighth-wicket partnership between Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder. The pair added 89 runs—a record for the eighth wicket in T20 World Cup history.
- Romario Shepherd: 52* off 37 balls
- Jason Holder: 49 off 31 balls (Run out on the penultimate ball)
Despite their efforts to reach a competitive 176/8, the total proved insufficient against a clinical South African batting unit on a true Ahmedabad surface.
Group 1 Standings & Scenarios
With this result, the path to the semi-finals is narrowing:
- South Africa (4 Pts): Qualified. They face Zimbabwe next in a bid to finish top of the group.
- West Indies (2 Pts): Must beat India in their final game to qualify.
- India (2 Pts): Must beat West Indies to qualify. Their superior NRR after the Zimbabwe win makes them slight favorites for the second spot.
