Markram's South Africa all but seal T20 World Cup semis berth with crushing 9-wicket win over West Indies

South Africa have all but sealed their spot in T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal after crushing West Indies by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi stadium on Ahmedabad on February 26. This was South Africa's second straight win in the Super 8.

South Africa takes strong step towards semis with West Indies rout

Batting first West Indies recovered from early jitters to post a competitive total of 176/8. In reply, South Africa rode on Aiden Markram's unbeaten 46-ball 82 to chase down the total with 23 balls to spare.

The results from Ahmedabad provided a massive boost to the Indian camp in Chennai, as Proteas' victory has granted the Men in Blue crucial breathing room in the Super 8 standings. With South Africa securing these points, India’s path to the semifinals has become much clearer, they now hold an excellent chance of progressing if they can successfully navigate their final two matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

Aiden Markram roars with the bat in South Africa's win

South Africa’s pursuit of 177 was clinical and aggressive from the outset. Openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock dismantled the West Indies' bowling attack early, refusing to let any bowler settle into a rhythm. Markram provided the initial spark before de Kock took over the scoring mantle. By the time the powerplay concluded, South Africa had already raced to 69 runs, effectively signaling the beginning of the end for the West Indies' defense.

The opening pair ultimately shared a commanding 95-run stand, though the innings was not without its flaws. Markram benefited from two significant lapses in the field; Brandon King dropped him in the third over off Matthew Forde, and Roston Chase later failed to hold onto a return catch in the 12th over. Markram capitalized on these lives, reaching a 27-ball half-century and finishing unbeaten on 82 from 46 deliveries, including seven boundaries and four maximums.

Following the dismissal of de Kock for a sharp 47, Ryan Rickelton stepped in to ensure there were no further hiccups. The left-hander contributed a steady unbeaten 45 off 28 balls, partnering with Markram in an 82-run stand that saw South Africa reach the target in just 16.1 overs. This dominant performance not only secured the win for the Proteas but also set the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the Super 8 stage for the remaining teams.

Shepherd-Holder's rescue act goes in vain

Earlier, West Indies staged a remarkable recovery to post 176 for eight against South Africa. The innings was defined by a resilient 89-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder, which rescued the side from a precarious 83 for seven. The duo shifted the momentum in the final five overs, accumulating 58 runs against a formidable South African pace attack. Shepherd anchored the comeback with a maiden T20I half-century (52 off 37 balls), while Holder narrowly missed his own milestone, falling for 49 off 31 deliveries after a late run-out.

The match began with explosive intent after South Africa elected to field. West Indies captain Shai Hope took immediate aim at spinner Keshav Maharaj, plundering 17 runs in the opening over. Brandon King maintained the pressure with three boundaries off Marco Jansen, but the momentum shifted violently in the third over. Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Hope for 16 and Shimron Hetmyer for 2. The collapse deepened in the fourth over when Lungi Ngidi removed King for a brisk 21 and bowled Roston Chase for 2, leaving the West Indies reeling at 43 for four.

The middle overs saw the West Indies struggle to find stability as South Africa’s bowlers tightened their grip. Despite a six from Sherfane Rutherford and a boundary from Rovman Powell, wickets continued to tumble. Corbin Bosch dismissed Rutherford for 12, and Ngidi claimed his second wicket by removing Powell for 9. When Matthew Forde was caught for a single in the 11th over, the West Indies appeared headed for a sub-par total at 83 for seven. However, Shepherd and Holder began a patient rebuild, cautiously guiding the team past the 100-run mark in the 14th over.

The final stretch of the innings saw an aggressive shift in tactics. The pair brought up their 50-run stand off 35 balls, with Shepherd particularly effective against Rabada. The 18th over proved to be a turning point as Holder took apart Marco Jansen, hitting two sixes and four fours in a 23-run blitz. Although South Africa’s death bowling—led by Ngidi and Rabada—restricted the scoring in the final two overs to just 13 runs, the damage was largely done. Ngidi finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30, while Rabada and Bosch claimed two wickets apiece, leaving South Africa with a target of 177 to chase, which the Proteas completed in just in 16.1 overs.