AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — South Africa took a giant leap toward the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after a dominant nine-wicket win over the high-flying West Indies on Thursday.
A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram (82 not out) and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of the chase. Ryan Rickelton added 45 not out and South Africa motored to 177-1 in 16.1 overs and stretched its unbeaten record in the tournament to six games, four of the wins in Ahmedabad.
“The boys have got used to the conditions here,” Markram said.
West Indies put up 176-8 from 83-7.
South Africa will advance if India beat Zimbabwe later Thursday in a must-win game for both in the Super Eights.
The Proteas play Zimbabwe in their last second-round game on Sunday, when the West Indies, which lost its first game in the tournament, faces co-host India.
“The way we play our cricket there will be a loss,” West Indies captain Shai Hope said. “The aim was to get it out early. The next game will be a quarterfinal.”
Markram set the tone for the chase by smashing seven boundaries and four sixes in 82 off 46. De Kock hit four sixes and four boundaries in his 24-ball 47. Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 off 28 balls. He and Markram shared an unbeaten 80 off 50 and South Africa won with more than three overs to spare.
Knowing the pitch, Markram said winning the toss was important. The ball nipped early before the pitched flattened out.
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down to 52-4. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs.
Kagiso Rabada (2-22) got a faint edge off Hope and Shimron Hetmyer top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper de Kock in the third over. Lungi Ngidi (3-30) took out Brandon King and Roston Chase in the fourth over.
Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder batted their side to respectability. Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies from an embarrassing 83-7 with a remarkable 89-run stand. Shepherd notched his maiden T20 half-century.
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Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th over before he was run out in the final over. Shepherd completed his half-century with an inside edge off the final ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under-par by about 50 runs.
“We bowled nicely,” Markram said. “A team like West Indies will take the game to you.”
Zimbabwe bowling first vs India
Sikandar Raza won the toss and Zimbabwe opted to bowl against India in Chennai.
Rinku Singh was unavailable and India made two changes: Sanju Samson came in for Singh and left-arm spinner Axar Patel replaced Washington Sundar.
Zimbabwe made one change; allrounder Tinotenda Maposa was in for wrist spinner Graeme Cremer.
The Chennai pitch should aid turn.
Lineups:
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (captain), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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