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SA's unbeaten T20WC run continues as Markram leads nine-wicket rout of West Indies

South Africa maintained their perfect record in the T20 World Cup with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over West Indies in Ahmedabad. Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 82, sharing key partnerships with Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. Earlier, a spirited late partnership between Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder helped West Indies post a competitive 176 after a top-order collapse. The win puts South Africa in a commanding position to qualify for the tournament's semifinals.

Key Points: South Africa thrash West Indies, near T20 World Cup semifinals

  • SA secures sixth straight T20WC win
  • Markram scores unbeaten 82 in chase
  • Shepherd-Holder stand lifts WI to 176
  • Victory puts SA on brink of semifinals
3 min read

"No step in this competition is easy": Skipper Markram after SA continue unbeaten T20WC run

Skipper Aiden Markram's 82* powers South Africa to a dominant nine-wicket win over West Indies, strengthening their unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup.

"No step in this competition is easy. - Aiden Markram"

Ahmedabad, February 26

Following his side's win over West Indies, South African skipper Aiden Markram expressed happiness with his side's performance in the powerplay with bat and ball alike and added that "no step in this competition is easy".

Markram's men continued their unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup, securing their sixth-successive win with a nine-wicket triumph over West Indies at Ahmedabad on Thursday. With this win, they have a foot out the Super Eight door and are close to the semifinals and have also benefitted India with the win.

Speaking during the post-match presser, Markram said, "I thought we actually bowled quite 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."

The Proteas captain said as they bowled, the Ahmedabad pitch kept getting "better and better" to bat on and admitted that going for yorkers and a change of pace later while bowling did not work.

He also hailed left-hander Ryan Rickelton, who played an important knock, for "making the number three spot his own."

At number three, Rickelton has played 11 innings and scored 357 runs at an average of 44.62, with a strike rate of 164.51 and two fifties.

"No step in this competition is easy. Hopefully, we get through (to the semifinals). Will be great, do not think too far ahead, but boys have got used to the conditions here (at Ahmedabad)," he concluded.

Coming to the match, South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. Lungi Ngidi (3/30 in four overs) and Rabada (2/22 in four overs) stunned the Windies batting in the first half, sinking them to 83/7. However, an 89-run entertaining counter-attacking stand between Romario Shepherd (52* in 37 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and Jason Holder (49 in 31 balls, with three fours and three sixes) took WI to 176/8 in 20 overs, with Marco Jansen's four-over spell of 50 runs being a big negative for the Proteas.

In the run-chase, Markram (82* in 46 balls, with seven fours and four sixes) and Quinton de Kock (47 in 24 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) had a quickfire 95-run partnership and later on, it was Rickelton (45* in 28 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) who had a partnership with Markram to take SA to a nine-wicket win with nine wickets in hand.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
That partnership between Shepherd and Holder was incredible to watch! Shows you can never count West Indies out. But SA's chase was clinical. The Ahmedabad pitch seems to be a belter once it settles down.
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Ananya R
Markram is right, no step is easy. But honestly, their bowling looked a bit weak in the death overs. Jansen going for 50 runs in 4 overs is a big concern if they face big teams like India or Australia. They need to fix that.
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Rohit P
Rickelton at number 3 is a revelation! Strike rate of 164 is just wow. SA has finally found a solid top order. Hope they go all the way, they deserve a trophy after so many close calls in ICC events.
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Priya S
Good to see the matches in Ahmedabad are producing such high-scoring thrillers! The crowd must have enjoyed it. SA's powerplay bowling was the real difference. Ngidi and Rabada set it up perfectly.
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David E
Respectful criticism: While the win was comprehensive, Markram's comment about the toss being fortunate is a bit telling. Top teams should be prepared to win from any situation, not just when conditions favor them. Still, a great performance overall!

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