West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford walks off the field after his dismissal during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between West Indies and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo) South Africa edged closer to a semi-final berth in the FIFA T20 World Cup with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their Super 8 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.The Proteas combined disciplined bowling with controlled batting to register their sixth straight win while ending West Indies’ unbeaten streak. The two points also boosted India’s position in the group as a loss in South Africa would complicate the qualification scenario for the hosts.
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The defeat also affected West Indies’ net run rate, which dropped to 1.791 from 5.350.After being asked to bat, West Indies were reduced to 83 for 7 as Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) went through the West Indies top and middle order. A lower-order partnership between Jason Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out 37) added 89 runs for the eighth wicket, helping the side recover to 176 for 8.In response, South Africa chased down the target by 16.1 overs. Captain Aiden Markram remained unbeaten on 82 while Quinton de Kock made 47 and Ryan Rickelton scored 45 not out.The chase took place in the powerplay itself, where South Africa scored 69 runs in six overs. De Kock and Markram added 95 runs in 7.5 overs, hitting 16 boundaries, including six sixes. De Kock hit four sixes and four fours in his 24-ball innings before being caught at long-on by Holder. Markram brought up his fifty with one off Gudakesh Motie and later shared an unbeaten 82-run stand with Rickelton. He ended the game with a direct stop beyond Holder.“We played pretty well actually, the powerplay obviously was a big thing for us to get going nicely. The partnership with Quinny (set things up),” said Markram, who was named man of the match.“The second innings was good with the bat, it was a bit sticky at the start and the boys bowled pretty well at the start.Earlier, West Indies got off to a quick start. Shai Hope (16 off 6) hit Keshav Maharaj for two sixes and a four while Brandon King (21 off 11) bowled Marc Jansen as the side reached 29 in just over two overs.Rabada removed Hope who was caught fishing outside off. Shimron Hetmyer (2) was dropped by Corbin Bosch at mid-off but was dismissed three balls later, failing Rabada. Ngidi then dismissed King and Roston Chase (2) in the fourth over to leave West Indies at 44 for 4.Sherfane Rutherford (12) hit Bosch for a six but the next ball fell to de Kock. Ngidi’s third wicket was Rovman Powell (9) to reduce the side to 71 for 6. Matthew Forde (11) later fell to Bosch after hitting a six.Holder and Shepherd then rebuilt. Holder hit 22 runs in one over Jansen before being run out off the penultimate ball of the innings. Shepherd went on to secure a competitive tally.“Losing so many goals in the power play cost us. We were 40-50 short. I have to give credit to the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance, I never know things could have turned around,” said Hope.“The way we play our cricket, losses are going to happen, the aim was to get it out early. The next game will be the quarter-finals.”
