Kamal Ghorui
Aiden Markram led South Africa with a sparkling half-century as the Proteas cruised to a 57-run victory over Canada in their opening Group D T20 World Cup clash on Monday. Batting first, Markram struck a rapid 59 off 32 balls, laced with 10 fours and a six, setting the tone for a commanding total. Quinton de Kock (25), Ryan Rickelton (33), Tristan Stubbs (34) and David Miller (39) also made crucial contributions as South Africa posted 213 for 4 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 214, Canada never really got going, finishing at 156 for 8. Navneet Dhaliwal stood out with a valiant 64, while Harsh Thaker added 33, but the asking rate proved too steep for the visitors. Canada’s innings began on a disastrous note as captain Dilpreet Bajwa edged the very first ball from Lungi Ngidi (4/31) to de Kock. Dhaliwal and Yuvraj Samra briefly steadied the ship with 17 runs in two overs before Ngidi struck twice in the third over, dismissing Samra and Nicholas Kirton as Canada slumped to 26 for 3. A 69-run partnership between Dhaliwal and Thaker offered some resistance, but Marco Jansen (2/30) struck in the 18th over to seal the emphatic win. South Africa’s innings had been explosive from the start. Markram attacked Dilon Heyliger in the second over, while de Kock followed with two fours off Saad Bin Zafar, the pair putting on 70 runs for the opening wicket in just 6.5 overs. De Kock was eventually cleaned up by Bajwa, and Markram reached his fifty in the 10th over before falling to Ansh Patel at long-on. Rickelton followed soon after, giving Patel another wicket, and Dewald Brevis added to Canada’s woes, caught by Kirton. In the final overs, Miller and Stubbs accelerated brilliantly, putting together an unbeaten 75-run partnership from just 37 balls, with Miller clearing the ropes at will. For Canada, Ansh Patel was the standout bowler with 3/31.
