South Africa made a stunning start to their campaign, defeating Canada by 57 runs in the Group D clash of the T20 World Cup on Monday, February 9, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 2024 runners-up put in a strong batting performance, led by Aiden Markram’s half-century, before Lungi Ngidi’s four-wicket haul dismantled Canada’s chase.
With the win, the Proteas moved to the top of the table with a net run rate of +2.850, overtaking New Zealand, who also began their campaign with a victory over Afghanistan. The Black Caps will have a chance to reclaim the top spot when they face the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
SA vs CAN, T20 World Cup Highlights
MARKRAM COMES OUT FIRING
After being asked to bat first, the Proteas got off to a brisk start as openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock dominated the powerplay, putting on 65 runs without losing a wicket. The partnership eventually reached 70 before Canada skipper Dilpreet Bajwa removed De Kock, who scored 25 off 22 balls.
Markram continued to play aggressively, reaching his fifty off 28 balls, while Ryan Rickelton supported with a quick 21-run knock off 33 balls. In the middle overs, South Africa suffered a mini-collapse, losing three wickets for 12 runs in just 14 balls to be reduced to 138 for four.
Canada’s left-arm wrist spinner Ansh Patel was impressive, taking all three wickets and finishing with figures of 4-0-31-3. Markram eventually fell for 59 off 32 balls in the 12th over. While Dewald Brevis fell cheaply, an unbeaten 75-run partnership between David Miller (39) and Tristan Stubbs (34) helped the Proteas post a competitive 213 for four.
NGIDI RUNS THROUGH CANADA
Canada didn’t get off to the best start as Lungi Ngidi struck early, removing skipper Dilpreet Bajwa for a duck in the very first over of their chase. Yuvraj Samra looked promising, hitting three fours, but Ngidi dismissed him soon after. Ngidi then claimed Nicholas Kirton’s wicket, and Kagiso Rabada sent back Shreyas Movva, reducing Canada to 50 for four in the powerplay.
Harsh Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal tried to stabilise the innings with a 69-run partnership, but the required run rate kept climbing. Ngidi broke the stand by taking Thaker’s wicket; he had made a handy 33 off 29 balls.
From there, Dhaliwal played a lone hand, reaching fifty off 39 balls and finishing with 64 off 49 balls, including seven fours and a six. Backed by Ngidi’s brilliant four-wicket haul and Marco Jansen’s 2-30 from four overs, South Africa completed a clinical victory in Ahmedabad, restricting Canada to 156 for eight.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
Tune In
