T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa flexes credentials after facile win over Canada
Canada, too, indulged in a small-scale show of strength, refusing to surrender and batting out its full quota of overs to get to 156 for eight while chasing a stiff 214-run target.
But once the Dilpreet Bajwa-led outfit lost four batters inside the PowerPlay with Lungi Ngidi rocking the top-order (four for 31), there was seldom any doubt about the result.
Navneet Dhaliwal (64, 49b, 7×4, 1×6) and Harsh Thaker (33, 29b, 2×4, 2×6) came together for 69 resolute runs for the fifth wicket. The need of the hour, however, was some breakneck batting, and that never materialised.
Earlier, put in to bat, South Africa was off to a fleet-footed start, with skipper Aiden Markram (59, 32b, 10×4, 1×6) and Quinton de Kock (25, 22b, 2×4) putting on 66 runs in the PowerPlay.
Despite de Kock’s dismissal, Markram continued his brisk scoring in the company of Ryan Rickelton (33, 21b, 3×4, 1×6), and the duo added 56 runs.
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But Markram was caught superbly by Dilon Heyliger at the long-on boundary off the Vadodara-born left-arm spinner Ansh Patel (three for 31).
It marked the start of a subdued few minutes for the Proteas as Ansh accounted for Rickelton and Dewald Brevis (6, 6b, 1×4), both falling to fine catches, by Harsh Thaker at long-off and Nicholas Kirton inside the 30-yard circle, respectively. The three wickets fell in the span of 15 balls and for the addition of just 12 runs.
That period, though, proved a chimera as South Africa’s lower middle-order came good, with David Miller (39 n.o., 23b, 1×4, 3×6) — who turned out for Gujarat Titans for three seasons — and Tristan Stubbs (34 n.o., 19b, 2×4, 2×6) combining for 75 runs from 37 balls.
It was a glimpse of the kind of hitting ability that makes the 2024 edition runner-up a fearsome team.
Published on Feb 09, 2026
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