South Africa stormed into the T20 World Cup semifinals conversation with a scintillating nine-wicket victory over the previously unbeaten West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The Proteas, led by skipper Aiden Markram, delivered a performance brimming with confidence, discipline, and raw power, stretching their own unbeaten streak to six matches—four of which have come at this very ground. For West Indies, the loss was their first of the tournament, but the contest has only heightened the stakes as the Super Eight stage barrels toward its dramatic conclusion.
From the outset, the match promised fireworks. With the mercury touching 35 degrees Celsius and a tacky red-soil pitch expected to flatten out as the afternoon wore on, South Africa’s decision to bowl first looked like a calculated gamble. "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," Markram said at the toss, exuding quiet assurance. West Indies captain Shai Hope, who would have also chosen to bowl, made a tactical change by bringing in offspinner Roston Chase for Akeal Hosein, aiming to counter South Africa’s trio of left-handers at the top.
The action began at 3:00 PM IST, with both teams unchanged from their previous dominant wins—South Africa fresh off a 76-run demolition of India, and West Indies buoyed by a 107-run thrashing of Zimbabwe. The stakes were sky-high: the winner would all but secure a semifinal berth, while the loser would face a virtual knockout in their final Super Eight fixture.
West Indies’ vaunted batting lineup, famed for their explosive stroke play, was put to the test immediately. South Africa’s pace attack, lauded throughout the tournament for its blend of high-velocity seam and shrewd variations, struck early and hard. Kagiso Rabada drew first blood, finding a faint edge off Hope, before Lungi Ngidi sent Brandon King and Roston Chase packing in a sensational fourth over. Shimron Hetmyer, one of the Caribbean side’s key hitters, fell to a top-edged pull, caught behind by Quinton de Kock. Within 10 balls, West Indies had slumped to 52-4—a nightmare start in a match of this magnitude.
Despite the early carnage, the Proteas were not flawless. They dropped three catches in the powerplay, giving West Indies a glimmer of hope. But the middle overs saw South Africa’s bowlers tighten the screws, with Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen keeping the run flow in check. At 83-7, West Indies looked dead and buried, staring at a sub-par total that would have handed South Africa a huge advantage on a familiar surface.
Yet, the Caribbean spirit is nothing if not resilient. Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder mounted a remarkable rescue act, stitching together an 89-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Shepherd, who notched his maiden T20 half-century, finished unbeaten on 52, while Holder smashed 49, including a brutal 23-run assault on Marco Jansen in the 18th over. Their late surge lifted West Indies to a respectable 176-8, a score that, while about 50 runs short of what they might have wanted, at least gave their bowlers something to defend.
"The way we play our cricket there will be a loss. The aim was to get it out early. The next game will be a quarterfinal," Hope remarked post-match, acknowledging both the setback and the opportunity that still lay ahead for his team.
South Africa’s chase was nothing short of ruthless. Markram and de Kock exploded out of the blocks, compiling a whirlwind 95-run opening stand in just eight overs. Markram was imperious, smashing seven boundaries and four sixes en route to a majestic 82 not out off just 46 balls. De Kock, ever the aggressor, bludgeoned four sixes and four boundaries in a 24-ball 47 before falling with the finish line in sight.
The onslaught didn’t end there. Ryan Rickelton joined Markram and kept the pedal down, adding an unbeaten 80-run partnership off just 50 balls. Rickelton’s 45 not out from 28 deliveries ensured there were no late jitters, and South Africa cruised home with more than three overs to spare, finishing on 177-1 in 16.1 overs. The ease and authority of the chase underlined the Proteas’ growing mastery of Ahmedabad’s conditions and their status as genuine title contenders.
"The boys have got used to the conditions here," Markram said after the win, emphasizing the advantage of familiarity and adaptability. "We bowled nicely. A team like West Indies will take the game to you." His tactical nous at the toss also proved decisive, as the pitch, initially offering movement, settled into a true surface ideal for stroke play as the evening approached.
The numbers from the match tell their own story. Rabada finished with 2-22, Ngidi with 3-30, and the rest of the attack chipped in with crucial overs to stifle West Indies’ momentum. For the Caribbean side, Shepherd and Holder’s late heroics stood out, but the top order’s collapse left them with too much to do. The defeat snapped West Indies’ unbeaten run, but with one Super Eight fixture remaining, their fate is still in their hands.
Broadcast to millions across India via the Star Sports Network and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and ICC.TV in select regions, the match captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide. The Narendra Modi Stadium, hosting its first 3pm local start of the tournament, once again proved a happy hunting ground for South Africa, whose record there now stands at an imposing four wins from four appearances.
For West Indies, the road to the semifinals now requires victory in their final Super Eight clash against co-hosts India—a showdown that promises even more drama and high-stakes cricket. South Africa, meanwhile, will watch the outcome of India versus Zimbabwe with keen interest, knowing that a win for India would officially seal their place in the last four. Their final Super Eight encounter against Zimbabwe offers a chance to fine-tune and maintain momentum heading into the knockout stages.
With the tournament heating up and every run, wicket, and tactical decision taking on outsized importance, South Africa’s emphatic win over the West Indies has set the tone for an electrifying finish to the Super Eight phase. The Proteas’ blend of experience, tactical acumen, and fearless cricket has them peaking at just the right moment—and with the semifinals in sight, they’ll be eager to keep their unbeaten run rolling.
As the dust settles in Ahmedabad, one thing is clear: South Africa have thrown down the gauntlet. The rest of the T20 World Cup field has been put on notice—this is a team with both the form and the firepower to go all the way.