South Africa launched their T20 World Cup campaign with a ruthless 57-run win over Canada on Monday in Ahmedabad, as Aiden Markram’s fluent half-century and Lungi Ngidi’s four-wicket burst set the tone in Group D.
Canada chose to bowl first and paid the price. South Africa battered their way to 213 for four, controlling the tempo from the opening overs and never letting go.
Markram led from the front and played like a captain who knew exactly when to accelerate. He smashed 59 from 32 balls and put Canada on the back foot inside the powerplay with a 70-run stand alongside Quinton de Kock.
Ansh Patel briefly slowed the surge with three wickets, but South Africa never lost momentum. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs finished the job, adding an unbeaten 75-run partnership that dragged the total beyond 200.
The final three overs summed up the mismatch. South Africa plundered 47 runs and turned a good score into a match-winning one.
Canada’s chase collapsed almost as soon as it began. Ngidi removed captain Dilpreet Bajwa first ball and kept punching holes through the top order.
Kagiso Rabada joined the party and knocked over Shreyas Movva’s off stump, leaving Canada wobbling at 45 for four. The game slipped away before it ever settled.
Navneet Dhaliwal refused to roll over and cracked a fighting 64. His stand with Harsh Thaker gave Canada brief hope, but it only delayed the inevitable.
Ngidi returned to end the resistance and Marco Jansen cleaned up late on. Canada limped to 156 for eight, well short of the required rate.
Markram kept his message grounded after the win, warning against early complacency. “We’ve seen at the start, anyone can beat anyone. You don’t take anyone lightly,” he said, a fair note with Afghanistan up next.
Elsewhere, Scotland spoiled Italy’s T20 World Cup debut with a commanding 73-run win in Group C. George Munsey’s blistering 84 set the platform before Michael Leask tore through Italy’s batting.
Zimbabwe also enjoyed a smooth day, cruising past Oman by eight wickets in Group B. Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 48 sealed the chase after the bowlers had done the damage.
