T20 World Cup: South Africa Outclass Canada by 57 Runs in One-Sided Clash
South Africa registered a dominant 57-run victory over Canada in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, producing an all-round performance led by skipper Aiden Markram’s half-century and a four-wicket haul from pacer Lungi Ngidi.
Batting first after Canada opted to bowl, South Africa piled up a mammoth total of 213 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock gave the Proteas a solid start, adding 70 runs for the first wicket. Markram played an aggressive knock of 59 off 32 balls, striking 10 fours and a six, while de Kock provided support before being dismissed later in the innings.
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Ryan Rickelton kept the momentum going with a quick 33 off 21 balls, including three fours and a six. Saad Bin Zafar conceded boundaries in the 11th over as Markram and Rickelton completed a 50-run partnership. However, Canada pulled things back briefly when Ansh Patel removed Rickelton on the first ball of an over and then dismissed Dewald Brevis, who managed just six runs.
Despite the brief slowdown, South Africa accelerated in the latter half of the innings as David Miller and Tristan Stubbs stitched together a crucial 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket off just 37 balls. Miller remained unbeaten on 39 from 23 deliveries, while Stubbs smashed an unbeaten 34 off 19 balls. The pair added 21 runs in the final over, which included three sixes, two from Miller and a towering hit from Stubbs on the last ball, taking South Africa to 213 for 4. For Canada, Ansh Patel was the standout bowler with figures of 3 for 31, while skipper Dilpreet Bajwa claimed the key wicket of de Kock.
In reply, Canada faced immediate trouble in their chase of 214. Lungi Ngidi struck on the very first ball, removing captain Dilpreet Bajwa, setting the tone for South Africa’s bowling dominance. Ngidi struck twice more in the third over, dismissing Yuvraj Samra and Nicholas Kirton, leaving Canada struggling at 26 for 3.
Shreyas Movva and Navneet Dhaliwal attempted to rebuild the innings with a few boundaries, but Kagiso Rabada removed Movva during the powerplay to reduce Canada to 45 for 4. Harsh Thaker then joined Dhaliwal, and the pair took the score past 100 by the end of the 14th over, offering brief resistance.
Ngidi returned to break the partnership in the very next over, dismissing Thaker for 33 off 29 balls, an innings that included two fours and two sixes. Dhaliwal continued to fight and reached his half-century in 39 balls during the 17th over, with Canada at 132 for 5.
The chase fell apart soon after as Marco Jansen struck twice in the 18th over, removing Saad Bin Zafar for 11 and Jaskaran Singh for a golden duck. Canada eventually limped to 156 for 8 in 20 overs, falling well short of the target. Dhaliwal top-scored with 64, while Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with impressive figures of 4 for 31. Jansen took 2 for 30, while Rabada and Corbin Bosch chipped in with one wicket each.
Brief scores: South Africa 213/4 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 59, David Miller 39 not out; Ansh Patel 3/31). Canada 156/8 in 20 overs (Navneet Dhaliwal 64, Harsh Thaker 33; Lungi Ngidi 4/31).
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