Magnificent Markram Leads Proteas To Commanding Victory 

Captain Aiden Markram delivered a colossal performance as he led his side to a commanding victory in a clash between the tournament’s final two unbeaten sides in the T20 World Cup, with South Africa coming out as victors over the West Indies by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

The two sides played one another in a three-match T20I series in South Africa before the World Cup, won 2-1 by South Africa – and with several West Indies players spending more than a month in South Africa playing in the SA20 – both camps were familiar with one another. 

Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first on the tacky, red soil pitch, which offered something for the bowlers early, before it was expected to even out later in the game.

South Africa came into the game unchanged following the convincing victory over India at the same ground four days ago. 

While the West Indies got off to a blistering start, they lost regular wickets early on to stifle their momentum. 

Keshav Maharaj’s first over went for 17 runs before Jansen’s second went for 12.

Kagiso Rabada then bowled brilliantly in the third – as Shai Hope nicked behind to De Kock and he accounted for the wicket of the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer – three balls later – after he had been dropped by Corbin Bosch two balls before.

From 29 for no loss, the West Indies were reduced to 31 for two in the space of three balls.

Rabada, who earlier in the tournament came under the cosh against Afghanistan, had an opening over, conceding just three runs for two wickets.  

Although Lungi Ngidi got hit for consecutive boundaries in his opening over, he bounced back with the wickets of Brandon King and Roston Chase, leaving the West Indies wobbling on 43/4 after four overs. 

The Proteas conceded 29 in the first two overs but pulled it back nicely in the next four – 23 runs for four wickets – leaving the West Indies on 52/4 at the end of the powerplay. 

Sherfane Rutherford was then dropped on three by Ngidi off the bowling of Jansen, with the West Indies score on 47.

South Africa fumbled thrice in the field – Brevis carrying the ball over the boundary when Hope was batting. Bosch dropped Hetmyer, where he couldn’t get enough reach, and Ngidi dropped Rutherford. 

When Rutherford launched Bosch for a massive six, the Proteas could’ve been fearing the worst, but the very next ball saw him sky one, which gave de Kock ample time to settle and take a fairly straightforward catch – leaving the West Indies stumbling at 60/5. 

Ngidi, who has displayed superb skill and control throughout the tournament, got his third scalp as Rovman Powell slapped one outside off-stump straight to Brevis at cover. 

After ten overs, the West Indies found themselves 82/6, and although their run-rate was good, the regular loss of wickets curtailed their progress.

There was a brilliant show of resistance and an exhibition of power hitting as Jason Holder and Romario Shephard – scoring his maiden T20I fifty – put on a stand of 89 off 57 deliveries for the eighth wicket, to spare their side embarrassment and take the West Indies to a respectable score. 

WEST INDIES – 176/8

Romario Shepherd 52* (37 balls), Jason Holder 49 (31 balls)

Lungi Ngidi 3/30 (4 overs), Kagiso Rabada 2/22 (4 overs), Corbin Bosch 2/31 (4 overs)

South Africa made batting look a breeze as Markram and de Kock put on an opening stand of 95 runs off 48 balls – before de Kock was caught by Jason Holder, running in from long-on, for a well-played 47 off 24 balls. 

Markram, in particular, looked fluid as he continued his solid form with an innings epitomised by a wonderful back foot shot over midwicket for a maximum before dispatching the next ball with a wonderful, classical punch through the off-side. Proper cricket shots, which made him an absolute joy to behold. 

The South African captain reached his fifty off 27 balls and with Ryan Rickelton, put on 82 runs for the second wicket as the number three batter added 45 runs at a strike rate of 160 with the West Indies looking hapless with the ball and clueless in the field. 

It was apt then that Markram hit the winning runs with a boundary, as the Proteas built on their comprehensive victory over India with another clinical performance. 

SOUTH AFRICA – 177/1

Aiden Markram 82* (46 balls), Quinton de Kock 47 (24 balls), Ryan Rickelton 45* (28 balls)

Roston Chase 1/46 (4 overs)