T20 World Cup | South Africa, West Indies hope to inch closer to the semifinals

In a format like T20 where despair could turn into delight and vice versa in a matter of a few overs, recent form might not mean much. Yet, in high-stakes ICC tournaments, momentum can play a key role.

It is what South Africa and the West Indies, the only remaining unbeaten teams of the ongoing T20 World Cup, will look to maintain when they meet in a pivotal Super Eight Group-1 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Thursday. Both sides are fresh off emphatic victories — the Proteas defeated India by 76 runs at this venue, while the Caribbean outfit thrashed Zimbabwe by 107 in Mumbai — and the winner of this tie could potentially seal a semifinal berth.

The Aiden Markram-led South Africa showed tenacity in its previous match, counter-punching its way out of trouble after being reduced to 20 for three. David Miller and Dewald Brevis led the recovery before Tristan Stubbs gave the final flourish. The bowlers then picked apart the Indian batting line-up with surgical precision.

The morale-boosting win and familiarity with the conditions — it will be Proteas’ fifth match at this ground in this edition — should give the 2024 edition’s runner-up the edge. At the same time, the Rainbow Nation must be wary of the two-time champion. The West Indies, led by Shai Hope, appears to be in contention for the big prize again, a scenario not many would have predicted at the start of the tournament.

Its strength lies in its batting, which packs a punch. The line-up is stacked with power-hitters, as evidenced by the fact that the West Indies leads the sixes chart (55) in the showpiece. The afternoon match will be played on a red-soil surface that offers true bounce and produces big totals. In such a case, it could play into the hands of Hope’s men.

While both teams aim to extend their winning streaks, the contest will also be keenly followed by India, as the outcome could influence the Men in Blue’s path to the last-four stage.