Published: February 26, 2026 at 8:41 pm
An Aiden Markram special guided South Africa past West Indies in Ahmedabad on Thursday, and one step closer to the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
A record partnership between Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd helped West Indies fight back from 83 for 7 to 176 for 8 in 20 overs. But Markram shut out any more comebacks by the Caribbean side, scoring an unbeaten 82 as South Africa raced to 177 for 1 in 16.1 overs.
The nine-wicket win put them in pole position for semifinal spot from Group 1. With two wins in two matches, the Proteas sit atop the group.
“Thought we bowled nicely. A team like West Indies will take the game to you. Thought the pitch was tacky and stopy. With the early nip, wanted to keep the ball up. Steep bounce came from the tackiness. Fortunately ended up on the right side of the toss. Lot of credit to the bowlers. (Surface) felt like while we were bowling, the wicket kept getting better and better. Towards the back end, when we went full and yorkers and change of pace, it didn’t work. Ricks has come and made No. 3 his own. No step in this competition is easy. Hopefully we get through. (Love affair with Ahmedabad)] Will be great, don’t think too far ahead but boys have got used to the conditions here,” said Markram.
Markram hits top gear
Hitting top gear from the first over, Markram continued full throttle, slamming four sixes and seven fours, including a straight drive for four to get his team over the finish line. It was his sixth half-century in the tournament, the most by a South African in T20 World Cups.
On a good batting surface in Ahmedabad, the South African top order came up with an ace performance. While Markram carried his bat through, Quinton de Kock scored a 24-ball 47 and Ryan Rickelton was unbeaten on 45.
The 95-run opening partnership, in just eight overs, between Markram and de Kock gave South Africa the perfect platform. It was their third 50+ stand, the most by any opening duo in this World Cup so far.
Put into bat, West Indies stepped out with a glory or bust attitude. Captain Shai Hope announced the intent with two sixes in the opening over off Keshav Maharaj and the team charged to 29 in the first two overs.
Rabada and Ngidi peg Windies
But South Africa quickly pegged them back as their premier pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi claimed two wickets each in their opening overs. Rabada packed Hope and Shimron Hetmyer within the space of three balls, while Ngidi claimed Brandon King and Roston Chase as the West Indies crashed from 29 for 1 to 43 for 4.
Fighting fire with fire, Holder and Shepherd blasted their way out of trouble. Holder, who slammed four fours and three sixes, fell just one short of a fifty. Meanwhile, his partner, Shepherd brought up his first T20I fifty, scoring a 52 off 37, with the help of three fours and four sixes. West Indies struck 11 sixes and 15 fours in total, earning 126 runs in boundaries.
It was one of the rare off days for South Africa in the field, as they dropped at least three regulation catches. As for the bowlers, Rabada (2/22) and Ngidi (3/30) and Corbin Bosch (2/31) helped their team to a position of strength, before Holder and Shepherd launched the onslaught.
Next game against India will be a quarterfinal: Hope
“Very important to get a big score but losing so many wickets in the powerplay cost us. We were 40-50 short. Must commend the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance, never know things could have changed. This pitch was probably better for batting than the one in Mumbai. The ball was coming on nicely, wasn’t any purchase there when we bowled and you could play through the line. We need to ensure we execute our plans, not necessarily the challenge of managing injuries in the side. It was one of those days. I thought we didn’t get enough runs on the board, and it was hard for the bowlers to pull it back. Everything will not be easy. The way we play our cricket, there will be a loss, aim was to get it out early. Next game will be a quarterfinal,” said Shai Hope.
Brief scores: West Indies 176 for eight in 20 overs (Brandon King 21, Jason Holder 49, Romario Shepherd 52 not out; Lungi Ngidi 3/30, Kagiso Rabada 2/22, Corbin Bosch 2/31) lost to South Africa 177 for one in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 82 not out, Quinton de Kock 47, Ryan Rickelton 45 not out).
