Aiden Markram led from the front as South Africa sent out a strong warning to the rivals with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their respective second Super Eight Group 1 clash of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

In pursuit of 177, Markram toyed with the Caribbean bowlers, scoring an unbeaten 82 (46b, 7×4, 4×6) and putting his side on the cusp of the semifinals. India’s victory over Zimbabwe later in the evening assured the Proteas a spot in the last-four stage.

The Proteas had already shown how well prepared they were by tactically taking down India at this venue three days ago, and this performance reiterated their billing as one of the favourites for the title.

Right from the first over of the chase, the South African skipper was in such a dominant mood that he casually strolled down to the pacers and smacked them over the infield at will. When they tried to cramp him for room, he simply stood to the leg side of the deliveries to loft them over midwicket for a couple of sixes.

Big opening stand

Soon, Quinton de Kock joined the action, depositing Shamar Joseph twice into the stands before taking on the spinners, as the duo added 95 for the opening wicket.

After de Kock departed, Ryan Rickelton ensured there would be no respite as he and his skipper overhauled the target with 23 balls to spare.

The platform for the win, though, was set up by the South African pacers, led by Lungi Ngidi (three for 30).

Electing to bowl, Kagiso Rabada and Ngidi bent their backs, extracting disconcerting bounce from the red-soil surface. They struck twice in their opening overs to reduce the two-time champions to 43 for four.

That soon became 83 for seven by the 11th over, as the West Indian batters stuck to their mantra of ‘live or die by the sword’ without adapting to the conditions.

Romario Shepherd (52 n.o.) and Jason Holder (49) got the innings back on track through an 89-run stand to take their team to 176 for eight and give the bowlers something to defend.

Markram, however, had other ideas as he scripted his outfit’s sixth consecutive win of the competition.

The scores: West Indies 176/8 in 20 overs (Jason Holder 49, Romario Shepherd 52 n.o., Rabada 2/22, Ngidi 3/30, Bosch 2/31) lost to South Africa 177/1 in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 82 n.o., Quinton de Kock 47, Ryan Rickelton 45 n.o.). Toss: SA. PoM: Markram.