South Africa moves closer to semi-finals after dominant all-round performance
South African cricketers continued their flawless streak in the T20 World Cup by comfortably defeating the West Indies at Ahmedabad. Captain Aiden Markram stood at the forefront of this victory, showcasing a batting masterclass that dismantled the opposition's bowling attack. While the win doesn't officially seal a semi-final berth yet, the clinical nature of the chase suggests the Proteas are the team to beat this year.
Choosing to bowl first on a tricky surface proved to be a masterstroke for the South African side. Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada exploited the conditions perfectly, leaving the Caribbean batters struggling for answers. Within the first eleven overs, the West Indies had collapsed to a precarious 83 for 7. Both Rabada and Ngidi found consistent movement, forcing errors from a lineup that seemed overly desperate to find the boundary.
Despite the early carnage, Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd managed to restore some dignity to the West Indies total. Their record-breaking eighth-wicket stand of 89 runs pushed the final score to 176. Shepherd reached his first-ever T20I half-century with a gritty 52, while Holder contributed a vital 49. Although their efforts ensured the team batted through their full 20 overs, the target never felt high enough against an in-form South African top order.
South Africa’s response was swift and brutal. Aiden Markram anchored the innings with a brilliant 82 not out, marking his third fifty of this tournament. He found excellent support from Quinton de Kock, who blasted 47 runs to set the tone early on. Following de Kock's departure, Ryan Rickleton joined the captain to finish the job with nearly four overs to spare. Every West Indian bowler struggled to contain the flow of runs, ending the match with expensive economy rates as the Proteas cruised to a nine-wicket win.
