In an emphatically won Group Stage encounter, South Africa defeated Canada by 57 runs in Tuesday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match. The clash was poised for dominance from the outset as the Proteas set a formidable target through an aggressive top-order display and powerful innings late into the final overs.
Captain Aiden Markram led his team to victory with a remarkable 59 off just 32 balls, striking 10 boundaries and hitting one six. Quinton de Kock chipped in with a solid 25, while Ryan Rickelton scored briskly for 33 runs. After some initial wobbling from the middle order, David Miller took over as Canada began to struggle. The South African captain amassed a fighting total of 39 off 23 balls, and Tristan Stubbs followed suit with an unbeaten 34 off 19 deliveries, taking them past 200 runs.
Their formidable partnership was supported by 17 extras, including ten wides, which further pushed the Canadian chase towards defeat. However, Canada managed to fight back through a robust top-score of 64 from Navneet Dhaliwal and a competitive 33-run knock from Harsh Thaker. Nevertheless, the consistent loss of wickets thwarted their chances effectively.
South Africa’s bowlers proved decisive in securing victory. Lungi Ngidi played an outstanding role with a match-winning spell of four wickets for thirty-one runs in just four overs, dismantling the Canadian batting lineup at critical junctures. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen added solid support to the attack, while Corbin Bosch also picked up one wicket.
Canada’s efforts were ultimately insufficient as they finished with 156 for eight in twenty overs, well short of South Africa’s imposing target. Ngidi’s match-winning performance secured him the Player of the Match award, a significant accolade.
This decisive win not only marked South Africa’s first victory in the tournament but also provided an encouraging boost to their net run rate heading into the remaining group-stage fixtures. The team sent a clear message to other competitors, positioning themselves favorably for upcoming matches ahead.