Kamal Ghorui
South Africa moved closer to a semifinal spot in the T20 World Cup with a commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in their Super 8 match on Thursday at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, 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 strengthened India’s position in the group, as a South Africa loss would have complicated the hosts’ qualification scenario.
The defeat also impacted the 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) ran through West Indies’ top and middle order. A lower-order partnership between Jason Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) added 89 runs for the eighth wicket, helping the side recover to 176 for 8.In reply, South Africa chased down the target in 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 was set up in the powerplay itself, where South Africa scored 69 runs in six overs. De Kock and Markram added 95 runs in 7.5 overs, striking 16 boundaries, including six sixes. De Kock hit four sixes and four fours in his 24-ball innings before being caught by Holder at long-on. Markram brought up his fifty with a single off Gudakesh Motie and later shared an unbeaten 82-run stand with Rickelton. He finished the match with a straight boundary off Holder.“We actually bowled pretty well, obviously the powerplay was a big thing for us, to get off nicely. The partnership with Quinny [set things up],” said Markram, who was named Player of the Match.“The second innings was good to bat on, it was slightly tacky early on and the guys bowled pretty well early on.”Earlier, West Indies had started quickly. Shai Hope (16 off 6) hit Keshav Maharaj for two sixes and a four, while Brandon King (21 off 11) attacked Marco Jansen as the side reached 29 in just over two overs.Rabada removed Hope, caught behind while fishing outside off. Shimron Hetmyer (2) was dropped by Corbin Bosch at mid-on but was dismissed three balls later, miscued off Rabada. Ngidi then dismissed King and Roston Chase (2) in the fourth over, leaving West Indies at 44 for 4.Sherfane Rutherford (12) hit Bosch for a six but fell next ball, top-edging to de Kock. Ngidi’s third wicket was Rovman Powell (9), reducing the side to 71 for 6. Matthew Forde (11) later fell to Bosch after hitting a six.Holder and Shepherd then rebuilt. Holder struck 22 runs in one over off Jansen before being run out off the penultimate ball of the innings. Shepherd carried on to ensure a competitive total.“Losing so many wickets in the powerplay cost us. We were 40-50 short. Must commend the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance, never know things could have changed,” Hope said.“The way we play our cricket, there will be a loss, aim was to get it out early. Next game will be quarter-final.”
