South Africa began their 2026 T20 World Cup journey with a dominant 57-run win against Canada in Ahmedabad The 2024 finalists combined aggressive batting with disciplined bowling to control the match from start to finish. After Canada chose to field first, South Africa immediately took advantage of the conditions.
Quinton de Kock and captain Aiden Markram gave South Africa a flying start, adding 70 runs in 6.5 overs. Dilpreet Bajwa removed de Kock for 25 with a sharp spinning delivery. Meanwhile, Markram raced to a half-century in 28 balls and made 59, striking 10 fours and a six. Their opening stand created early pressure on Canada and strengthened South Africa’s innings.
Later, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs accelerated the scoring in the final overs. Miller scored an unbeaten 39 off 23 balls, while Stubbs remained not out on 34 off 19 deliveries. Together, they added an unbroken 75 runs in 6.1 overs, taking South Africa to a massive total of 213-4, the highest in this year’s tournament so far.
Pace Attack Breaks Canada’s Line-Up
Canada struggled in their reply. Navneet Dhaliwal offered some resistance with 64 runs, but the rest of the batting order fell under South Africa’s relentless pace attack. Lungi Ngidi dominated, taking 4 wickets for 31 runs in his four overs. His variations and control left Canada reeling at 45-4 during the powerplay.
Ngidi, named player of the match, praised the evening conditions. “The dew made a difference. A fuller ball slid on while slow balls still held up. Our variations caught them out,” he said.
South Africa’s bowling attack maintained pressure throughout. Left-arm wrist-spinner Ansh Patel troubled the middle order, removing Ryan Rickelton for 33 and Dewald Brevis for six. Patel finished with 3-31, briefly slowing South Africa’s momentum before Miller and Stubbs secured the win.
Impressive All-Round Performance
The match highlighted South Africa’s balance in all departments. Their batting lineup combined aggressive starts with smart finishing, while the bowlers executed plans effectively. Captain Markram praised the team’s performance, emphasizing discipline and adaptability in different match conditions.
With this victory, South Africa made a strong statement at the start of their T20 World Cup campaign. Experts say the team’s blend of seasoned players and emerging talent strengthens their title prospects. Meanwhile, Canada must quickly reorganize and prepare for challenging fixtures ahead.
