By Alam Zeb Safi
AHMEDABAD: Skipper Aiden Markram struck an unbeaten 82 as South Africa stormed to a nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their Super Eights Group 1 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, chasing down 177 with 23 balls to spare in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
South Africa finished on 177-1 in 16.1 overs after restricting West Indies to 176-8, sealing two crucial points and thus qualifying for the semi-finals.
Markram’s 46-ball knock, laced with seven fours and four sixes, earned him the Player of the Match award as he anchored a clinical chase built on early aggression and sustained dominance.
“We wanted to be brave in the powerplay,” Markram said. “The surface was good and once we got ahead of the rate, it was about staying composed.”
After electing to field, South Africa’s seamers ripped through the West Indies top order inside the powerplay. Kagiso Rabada (2-22) and Lungi Ngidi (3-30) shared five wickets as West Indies slumped to 52-4 in six overs.
Openers Brandon King (21) and captain Shai Hope (16) began briskly, but Rabada removed Hope with a sharp delivery that induced an edge behind before dismissing Shimron Hetmyer three balls later. Ngidi then struck twice in quick succession to leave West Indies reeling at 43-4.
The collapse deepened when Rovman Powell fell for 9 and at 83-7 in the 11th over, West Indies appeared headed for a sub-par total.
Jason Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) staged a spirited recovery with an eighth-wicket partnership worth 89 runs.
Holder mixed timing with power, striking four fours and three sixes before being run out in the penultimate over. Shepherd, batting at No 9, raised his half-century with calculated hitting at the death, guiding West Indies to 176-8, a total that looked competitive after their early troubles.
Ngidi and Rabada were well supported by Corbin Bosch (2-31) while South Africa’s disciplined lengths restricted boundaries through the middle overs.
Markram and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock plundered 69 runs in the powerplay without loss. The pair brought up their 50 stand in just 30 balls with Markram reaching his half-century off 27 deliveries.
De Kock smashed 47 off 24 balls, including four sixes before falling to Roston Chase at 95-1 in the eighth over.
Ryan Rickelton (45 not out off 28) joined Markram to add an unbroken 82-run partnership for the second wicket. Markram accelerated seamlessly after drinks, dispatching the spinners over midwicket and piercing the off-side field with precision.
South Africa crossed 150 in the 14th over and wrapped up the chase in the 17th, underlining their batting depth as David Miller and Tristan Stubbs were not required.
West Indies’ bowlers struggled for control, with Roston Chase (1-46) the only wicket-taker. None of their frontline quicks managed a breakthrough as South Africa scored at nearly 11 runs an over.
The outcome helped Proteas to qualify for the semis while the loss left West Indies in a tight corner with just two points with a game against India in hand.
Summarised scores:
West Indies 176-8 (20 overs)
Romario Shepherd 52* (37), Jason Holder 49 (31)
Lungi Ngidi 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 2-22, Corbin Bosch 2-31
South Africa 177-1 (16.1 overs)
Aiden Markram 82* (46), Quinton de Kock 47 (24), Ryan Rickelton 45* (28)
Roston Chase 1-46
Result: South Africa won by 9 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Aiden Markram
