West Indies’ Shirvan Rutherford walks off the field after being dismissed during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between West Indies and South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI photo)
South Africa moved closer to reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup with a resounding nine-wicket win over West Indies in a Super 8 match on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, continuing their unbeaten run in the tournament.The Proteas combined disciplined bowling and controlled batting to record their sixth successive win, while ending the West Indies’ unbeaten streak. The two points also strengthened India’s position in the group, as a loss to South Africa would have complicated the qualification scenario for the hosts.
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka exit tournament; Pakistan’s hopes diminished
The defeat also affected West Indies’ net run rate, which fell to 1,791 from 5,350.After being asked to bat, West Indies were reduced to 83 for 7 as Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) ran through the West Indies top and middle order.
A lower-order partnership between Jason Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) added 89 runs for the eighth wicket, helping the team recover to 176 for 8.In response, South Africa chased down the target with 16.1 overs. Captain Aiden Markram maintained his unbeaten record with 82 points, while Quinton de Kock scored 47 points, and Ryan Rickleton scored 45 points.The chase was set up in the powerplay itself, with South Africa scoring 69 runs in six overs.
De Kock and Markram added 95 runs in 7.5 overs, hitting 16 boundaries, including six sixes. De Kock hit four sixes and four fours in his 24-ball innings before Holder caught him at long-on. Markram raised his fifty with a single from Gudakesh Motie and later shared an 82-run unbeaten stand with Rickleton. He finished the match with a straight boundary from Holder.“We played really well, and obviously the power play was big for us, to come out well.
Partnership with Queenie [set things up]Markram, who was named player of the match, said:“The second innings was good for the bat, a bit sloppy early and the guys bowled well early.”Earlier, West Indies started fast. Shai Hope (16 off 6) hit Keshav Maharaj for two sixes and a four, while Brandon King (21 off 11) hammered Marko Janssen as the team reached 29 in just over two overs.Rabada removed Hope caught behind while hunting outside.
Shimron Hetmyer (2) was brought down by Corbin Bosch at mid-off but was dismissed three balls later, fouled by Rabada. Ngidi then dismissed King and Roston Chase (2) in the fourth over, leaving West Indies at 44 for 4.Shirvan Rutherford (12) hit Bosch for a six but fell with the next ball, edging De Kock. Ngidi’s third wicket was Ruffman Powell (9), reducing the side to 71 for 6. Matthew Ford (11) later fell to Bush after hitting a six.Holder and Shepherd were then rebuilt. Holder hit 22 in one over Jansen before being run out on the penultimate ball of the innings. The sponsor continued to guarantee a competitive total.“Losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay cost us. We were 40-50 short. We have to credit the players in the bottom half for giving us a chance, you never know things could have turned around,” Hope said.“The way we play cricket, there will be a loss, and the aim was to get out early. The next match will be in the quarter-finals.”
