South Africa crushed West Indies by nine wickets in the 7th match of the Super Eight round of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
After being invited to bat first, West Indies lost half their side in the seventh over. Lungi Ngidi (3/30 in 4 overs) and Kagiso Rabada (2/22 in 4 overs) dismantled the West Indies top order. At the halfway stage, West Indies were struggling at 83/7. Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder then added an 89-run partnership for the eighth wicket to take West Indies to a respectable total.
In reply, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a blazing start. They added a quickfire 95 runs for the first wicket. Roston Chase dismissed de Kock in the eighth over, but Ryan Rickelton, who came in at No. 3, continued the aggressive approach.
Markram remained unbeaten on 82 off 46 balls, while Rickelton stayed not out on 45 off 28 balls. With this win, South Africa moved to the top of Group 1 in the Super Eight stage.
Markram Anchors a Ruthless Chase
Markram’s knock was his third half-century of the tournament and his 22nd fifty-plus score in T20 internationals. He made the 177-run chase look comfortable. He and Quinton de Kock added 95 runs for the first wicket, their highest opening stand of this campaign.
That partnership removed any momentum West Indies had gained late in their innings. De Kock scored 47 off 24 balls, while Ryan Rickelton later contributed an unbeaten 45 off 28 balls. The trio attacked consistently and punished every bowler used by West Indies captain Shai Hope. All six bowlers finished with economy rates in double figures.
West Indies Recover After Collapse
West Indies struggled badly after being sent in to bat on a sticky Ahmedabad pitch. They slipped to 83 for 7 in the 11th over. Lungi Ngidi (3 for 30) and Kagiso Rabada (2 for 22) led the damage. Corbin Bosch also picked up two wickets as the batters kept trying to clear the boundary.
However, Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd staged a fightback. They put on a record 89 runs for the eighth wicket in T20 internationals for West Indies. Shepherd scored an unbeaten 52, his first T20I half-century, reaching the mark with an inside edge for four off the final ball. Holder added a steady 49.
The pair stayed aggressive. They kept aiming for boundaries instead of simply rotating strike. Out of West Indies’ 176 total, 126 runs came in boundaries. They hit 11 sixes during the partnership but also played 53 dot balls in the innings.
Openers Lay the Foundation
South Africa’s openers once again set the tone. Markram took early risks and raced ahead, allowing de Kock to settle. After six overs, South Africa were 53 without loss. Markram had already scored 43, while de Kock had just 9 from 11 balls.
Then the roles reversed. De Kock exploded with 38 runs off his next 11 balls, including four sixes. During that phase, Markram faced only four deliveries. Their ability to switch roles smoothly highlighted the balance in South Africa’s batting unit.
This was their ninth innings together at the top since coach Shukri Conrad reunited them after de Kock returned from international retirement. The partnership continues to grow stronger with each game.
West Indies Stay True to Their Style
West Indies maintained their aggressive philosophy under head coach Daren Sammy. Even after losing early wickets, they kept attacking. Six of their top seven batters fell while trying to hit boundaries.
Despite the collapse, the late surge showed their belief in power-hitting. They have now smashed 66 sixes in this T20 World Cup, setting a new tournament record and surpassing their previous best of 62 from the last edition, and that too in 90 fewer balls.
However, on this surface, 176 proved insufficient. South Africa chased it down with ease.
Brief Scorecard
