South Africa sealed their semifinal berth with a commanding 9-wicket victory over West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Both teams entered unbeaten but South Africa’s clinical performance ended West Indies’ perfect run. The result opened the door for India’s semifinal hopes. West Indies collapsed to 83/7 before Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd staged a remarkable fightback.
Their 89-run eighth-wicket partnership stands as the highest for eighth wicket or lower in T20I history. Shepherd remained unbeaten on 52 while Holder fell one short of fifty, lifting West Indies to 176/8.
South Africa’s chase was ruthless as Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock plundered 95 runs for the opening wicket. Markram remained unbeaten on 78 off 45 balls while Ryan Rickelton contributed 45*. South Africa completed the chase in 16.1 overs, maintaining their unbeaten record and becoming the first team to confirm a semifinal spot.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup, Super 8 Group 1 |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Result | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| West Indies | 176/8 (20 overs) |
| South Africa | 177/1 (16.1 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Aiden Markram (78* off 45) |
| Toss | South Africa won and chose to field |
First Innings Highlights
Shai Hope provided a blazing start with 16 off 6 balls, smashing two sixes. Brandon King struck 21 off 11 balls with five boundaries. Kagiso Rabada struck twice to dismiss Hope and Shimron Hetmyer cheaply.
Lungi Ngidi removed Brandon King, caught behind, before dismissing Roston Chase for 2. West Indies collapsed to 32/4 within four overs. Rovman Powell departed for 9 as Ngidi claimed his third wicket. Corbin Bosch removed Sherfane Rutherford for 12 and Matthew Forde for 11. West Indies slumped to 83/7 in the 12th over. Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd combined for a match-defining partnership.
Holder struck three sixes and four boundaries in his 49 off 31 balls. Shepherd remained composed, reaching 52* off 37 balls with powerful hitting on the final ball. The pair added 89 runs, the highest eighth-wicket partnership in T20I history.
Holder was run out on 19.5. Their remarkable stand lifted West Indies to 176/8. Ngidi finished with 3/30 while Rabada and Bosch claimed two wickets each.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Romario Shepherd | 52* runs (37 balls) |
| Best Bowler | Lungi Ngidi | 4-0-30-3 |
Second Innings Highlights
Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock dominated the powerplay, racing to 69 without loss. Markram struck boundaries off Matthew Ford and Shepherd. De Kock took his time initially, then exploded after the field restrictions lifted.
The opening pair added 95 runs before Roston Chase struck. De Kock fell for 47 off 24 balls with four fours and four sixes, caught by Jason Holder at long-on. Markram reached his fifty off 27 balls.
Ryan Rickelton joined Markram and continued the momentum with measured aggression. Rickelton struck boundaries off Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph. Markram smashed Chase for three consecutive sixes in the 14th over.
The pair added over 50 runs for the second wicket. Rickelton finished unbeaten on 45 off 28 balls. Markram remained unbeaten on 78 off 45 balls, sealing victory with a boundary off Holder. South Africa completed the chase in 16.1 overs with nine wickets remaining.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Aiden Markram | 78* runs (45 balls) |
| Best Bowler | Roston Chase | 4-0-46-1 |
