02/26/26 07:18:00
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02/26 07:16 CST Unbeaten South Africa crushes West Indies by 9 wickets at T20
World Cup
Unbeaten South Africa crushes West Indies by 9 wickets at T20 World Cup
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) --- South Africa took a giant leap toward the Twenty20
World Cup semifinals after a dominant nine-wicket win over the high-flying West
Indies on Thursday.
A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram (82 not
out) and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of the chase. Ryan
Rickelton added 45 not out and South Africa motored to 177-1 in 16.1 overs and
stretched its unbeaten record in the tournament to six games.
West Indies reached 176-8 from 83-7.
South Africa could top Group 1 in the Super Eights if it beats Zimbabwe in its
last game on Sunday, when the West Indies, which lost its first game in the
tournament, also faces co-host India.
India played Zimbabwe later Thursday in a must-win game for both.
Markram set the tone for the chase by smashing seven boundaries and four sixes
in 82 off 46. De Kock hit four sixes and four boundaries in his 24-ball 47.
Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 off 28 balls. He and Markram
shared an unbeaten 80 off 50 and South Africa won with more than three overs to
spare for a fourth time in Ahmedabad.
The lone wicket was taken by spin bowling allrounder Roston Chase, who was
drafted into the playing XI in place of spinner Akeal Hosein.
Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder couldn't bowl West Indies to victory
after batting their side to respectability.
Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies from an embarrassing
83-7 with a remarkable 89-run stand. Shepherd notched his maiden T20
half-century.
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down
to 52-4. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs.
Kagiso Rabada (2-22) got a faint edge off West Indies captain Shai Hope and
Shimron Hetmyer, who top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper de Kock in the third
over. Lungi Ngidi (3-30) took out Brandon King and Chase in the fourth over.
Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed
Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th over before he was run out in the final
over. Shepherd completed his half-century with an inside edge off the final
ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under-par at its favorite
ground in Ahmedabad.
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