T20 World Cup: South Africa maintain unbeaten record with nine-wicket win over West Indies

Aiden Markram claimed 82 off 46 balls as South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets to maintain their unbeaten record in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The South African captain scored seven fours and four sixes as South Africa chased down 177 balls with 23 balls remaining to move two points clear at the top of Group A in the Super 8s and put one foot in the semi-finals.

The 31-year-old, who made a half-century off 27 balls, shared a 95-run opening stand with Quinton de Kock (47 off 24) before the wicket-keeper was removed by Roston Chase in the eighth over. Ryan Rickelton chipped in with a quick-fire 45 not out from 28 on third down.

Markram achieved South Africa’s fifth victory in the tournament in Ahmedabad with his eleventh.

The win puts the Proteas on the verge of the semi-finals without being mathematically certain. They will qualify if India beats Zimbabwe in the other match on Thursday. The West Indies play India in their final group match knowing that defeat will likely doom them.

South Africa, finalists in 2024, should have been aiming for a much lower total after taking four wickets in the powerplay and later reducing the West Indies to 83-7.

However, the two-time champions fought back through Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder, who scored 89 (57) for the eighth wicket to pull West Indies past 170.

After batting opener Keshav Maharaj for 17, West Indies, who piled on 254-6 against Zimbabwe in their Super 8 opener on Monday, lost four wickets in 11 balls to fall from 29-0 to 43-4 inside four overs, with Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi collecting two wickets each.

Shervan Rutherford, who was unable to capitalize on a dropped three, Rovman Powell and Matthew Ford joined the procession to the dressing room before Sheppard and Holder came together in the 11th.

After steadily rebuilding, the duo burst into life from the 15-run mark, with Shepherd accelerating from 21 (17) to finish unbeaten at 52 (37) and Holder reaching 49 (31) before being run out on the penultimate ball of the innings.

They added 58 runs off the last five overs, including Holder’s 18th over, bowled by Marco Janssen, for 23.