The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was abuzz with anticipation on February 26, 2026, as two unbeaten heavyweights—South Africa and West Indies—clashed in a pivotal Super Eight encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. With both teams boasting perfect records through five matches, only one could keep their streak alive, while the other would taste defeat for the first time in the tournament. The stakes were sky-high, with a semi-final berth not guaranteed but certainly within closer reach for the victors.
South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram won the toss and, eyeing the tacky red-soil pitch and the searing 35-degree Celsius heat, chose to field first. Markram expressed confidence in his squad’s familiarity with the Ahmedabad surface, remarking, “We’ve been lucky to have played a few games here now. Each wicket has been quite different from the other. It’s another exciting opportunity for us.” The Proteas stuck with the same eleven that had convincingly beaten co-hosts India just four days prior—a sign of both stability and belief in their winning formula.
On the other side, West Indies captain Shai Hope made a single tactical change, bringing in offspinner Roston Chase for Akeal Hosein. Hope explained the decision was purely strategic, aiming to counter South Africa’s trio of left-handed batsmen in the top five. “We wanted to match up better against their left-handers. It’s just a tactical switch,” Hope said before the game, also noting he would have preferred to bowl first had the coin fallen his way.
The West Indies’ opening salvo was nothing short of electric. Hope himself led the charge in the very first over, hammering Keshav Maharaj for a six over long-on, then a four inside-out over cover, and another six over mid-wicket—though the last was nearly caught on the boundary. The Windies looked intent on seizing the initiative, but Kagiso Rabada quickly put the brakes on their momentum. At just 2.2 overs, Rabada found extra bounce, drawing the edge from Hope, who departed for a brisk 16 off six balls (including a four and two sixes), caught behind by Quinton de Kock. The opening stand of 29 runs was broken, and suddenly the Windies faced a stern test.
Rabada wasn’t done yet. Three balls later, he removed Shimron Hetmyer for just two, as Hetmyer’s aggressive pull shot failed to clear Keshav Maharaj in the deep. South Africa’s pace duo were relentless—Lungi Ngidi joined the party by dismissing a fluent Brandon King, who had struck five boundaries in his 21 off 11 balls. Ngidi angled one back in from wide of the crease, finding the outside edge for de Kock to pouch safely. The collapse continued as Roston Chase, the man brought in to bolster the middle order, dragged a ball onto his stumps for just two, again off Ngidi. By the end of the fourth over, West Indies had lost four wickets in quick succession, their early aggression suddenly looking perilous.
Sherfane Rutherford and Rovman Powell attempted to steady the ship. Rutherford launched Corbin Bosch for a towering six over deep mid-wicket, but Bosch responded immediately, inducing a top-edge that de Kock gleefully accepted. Powell, after briefly finding the boundary off Marco Jansen, fell to Ngidi for nine, with Dewald Brevis taking a sharp catch at cover. At 60 for 5 in 6.3 overs, the Windies were reeling, their vaunted batting lineup under siege from South Africa’s disciplined pace attack.
Matthew Forde tried to inject life into the innings, attacking Jansen with a four and a six in the tenth over. His cameo, however, was short-lived, as Bosch struck again, having Forde caught by Ryan Rickelton for 11. By the halfway mark, the Windies had lost seven wickets, and their hopes of a big total looked faint.
Yet, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, and West Indies found their resurgence through an audacious lower-order fightback. Jason Holder, a man known for his composure under pressure, began to counterattack with calculated aggression. He took on Maharaj and Jansen, launching three sixes and four boundaries in a sparkling display. At the other end, Romario Shepherd provided the perfect foil, rotating the strike and picking his moments to attack.
The pair orchestrated an 89-run partnership that transformed the complexion of the innings. Holder’s 49 off 31 balls, peppered with four boundaries and three sixes, was a masterclass in late-innings acceleration. Just as he seemed destined for a half-century, a mix-up led to his run-out at 19.5 overs—a heartbreak for the all-rounder but a crucial contribution for his side. “We just wanted to keep fighting and take it as deep as possible,” Holder would later say, reflecting on his partnership with Shepherd.
Shepherd, undeterred, powered on. He reached his maiden T20I half-century with a flourish, finishing unbeaten on 52 from 37 deliveries, striking three fours and four sixes. His ability to find the boundary at the death ensured West Indies posted a competitive 176 for 8 in their 20 overs—a total that looked improbable at 60 for 5. Shepherd’s knock was a testament to grit and power, and it gave the Windies a fighting chance in this high-stakes contest.
For South Africa, the bowlers shared the spoils. Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch each claimed three wickets, while Rabada’s early double-strike set the tone. De Kock was sharp behind the stumps, and the fielders backed up their bowlers with committed efforts—none more so than the run-out that ended Holder’s innings.
As the teams headed for the break, the match remained finely poised. South Africa’s decision to field first had paid dividends in the early going, but West Indies’ lower-order heroics ensured the Proteas would need to bat well on a pitch offering bounce and under the glare of the Ahmedabad sun. With both teams desperate to protect their unbeaten records and edge closer to the semi-finals, the second innings promised to be a thriller.
With the action ongoing and South Africa yet to begin their chase, fans around the world watched with bated breath. Would the Proteas’ familiarity with the Ahmedabad surface help them overhaul the Windies’ total, or would the Caribbean side’s fighting spirit see them through? One thing was certain: the T20 World Cup drama was far from over at the Narendra Modi Stadium.