South Africa started the West Indies tour of South Africa 2026 in strong fashion with a 9-wicket win in the first T20I at Boland Park, Paarl. A disciplined bowling effort led by George Linde and a dominant chase powered by Aiden Markram helped the hosts seal the match with more than two overs to spare.
West Indies posted a competitive total, but South Africa’s top order never looked under pressure as they cruised to the target.
Match Summary
| Match | South Africa vs West Indies, 1st T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | West Indies tour of South Africa 2026 |
| Venue | Boland Park, Paarl |
| Date | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Result | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| West Indies | 173 for 7 in 20 overs |
| South Africa | 176 for 1 in 17.5 overs |
| Player of the Match | George Linde |
West Indies 1st Innings Highlights
West Indies finished on 173 for 7 after being put under pressure at regular intervals. Brandon King gave the innings early momentum with a quick 27 off 16 balls, hitting five fours and a six at a strike rate of 168.75.
Shimron Hetmyer was the standout batter for West Indies. He scored 48 runs from 32 balls, including four fours and three sixes, and kept the scoring rate healthy in the middle overs. Rovman Powell supported well at the end with an unbeaten 29 off 25 balls.
George Linde was the key difference with the ball. He picked up 3 wickets for just 25 runs in his four overs and removed key batters like Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, and Jason Holder. Keshav Maharaj also chipped in with two wickets, while Corbin Bosch took two important breakthroughs.
Despite a late push, West Indies managed a run rate of 8.65, which proved slightly below par on a good batting surface.
South Africa 2nd Innings Highlights
South Africa made the chase look easy from the start. They reached 68 runs in the powerplay and never allowed West Indies to build pressure.
Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten 86 off 47 balls. His innings included nine fours and three sixes and came at a strike rate of 182.98. Markram controlled the chase perfectly and punished anything loose.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius played an attacking knock at the top, scoring 44 off 28 balls with six fours and a six before falling in the eighth over. After his dismissal, Ryan Rickelton ensured there were no further hiccups.
Rickelton remained not out on 40 from 32 balls and added an unbeaten 93-run partnership with Markram. South Africa reached the target in just 17.5 overs, finishing with a run rate close to 10 per over.
The West Indies bowlers struggled to contain the scoring, with none able to take more than one wicket.
Key Takeaways
- George Linde’s 3 for 25 earned him Player of the Match
- Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 86 sealed the chase comfortably
- South Africa chased 174 with 13 balls to spare
- West Indies lacked control in the middle and death overs
South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the T20I series and will be confident heading into the next match.
