Aiden Markram scored a brilliant 82 not out off 46 balls as South Africa defeated West Indies by nine wickets, keeping their unbeaten run alive at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Markram hit seven fours and four sixes while chasing 177, finishing the game with 23 balls to spare. The South African captain brought up his half-century off 27 deliveries and shared a 95-run opening partnership with Quinton de Kock, who scored 47 from 24 balls before being dismissed by Roston Chase. Ryan Rickelton contributed a quick 45 not out from 28 at number three to guide South Africa home.
The win marks South Africa’s fifth in the tournament and puts them on the verge of the semi-finals. They will secure their spot if India beats Zimbabwe in their next game. West Indies, meanwhile, face a likely elimination if they lose to India.
South Africa had initially been set to chase a much lower total after taking four early wickets and reducing West Indies to 83-7. However, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder fought back, putting on an 89-run stand for the eighth wicket to push the total past 170.
West Indies had started aggressively, scoring 17 runs off Keshav Maharaj’s opening over, but quickly collapsed from 29-0 to 43-4 in just four overs as Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi took two wickets each. Shepherd and Holder steadied the innings from the 11th over, eventually accelerating in the final five overs. Shepherd finished unbeaten on 52 from 37 balls, while Holder scored 49 from 31 before being run out. They added 58 runs in the last five overs, including Holder’s 23 in the 18th over off Marco Jansen.
