SA VS CAN: Proteas win first T20 WC clash by 57 after posting 213 massive

South Africa defeated Canada by a comprehensive 57 runs in a Group Stage encounter as SA SV CAN clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign kicked off dominantly on Tuesday.

Batting first, the Proteas piled up a formidable 213 for 4 in their SA VS CAN clash, courtesy of an aggressive top-order display and a powerful finish in the death overs.

Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with a scintillating 59 off just 32 balls, smashing 10 boundaries and a six at a strike rate of 184.38. He was well supported by Quinton de Kock, who chipped in with 25, and Ryan Rickelton, who scored a brisk 33.

After a brief middle-order wobble, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs took charge of the innings. Miller remained unbeaten on 39 off 23 balls, while Stubbs smashed an unbeaten 34 off 19 deliveries, ensuring South Africa crossed the 200-run mark. The Proteas also benefited from 17 extras, including 10 wides.

For Canada, Ansh Patel was the standout bowler with 3 wickets for 31 runs, while Dilpreet Bajwa and Marco Jansen picked up one wicket each.

Chasing a daunting target of 214, Canada struggled to maintain momentum despite a fighting knock from Navneet Dhaliwal, who top-scored with 64 off 49 balls. Harsh Thaker added some resistance with 33 off 29 deliveries, but regular wickets halted Canada’s chase.

South Africa’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Lungi Ngidi, who produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 31 in 4 overs, dismantling the Canadian batting lineup at crucial stages. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen provided solid support, while Corbin Bosch chipped in with a wicket.

Canada were eventually restricted to 156 for 8 in 20 overs, falling well short of the target.

Ngidi’s outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

With this emphatic victory, South Africa not only secured their first win of the tournament but also gave a strong boost to their net run rate, sending a clear message to the rest of the competition ahead of the remaining group-stage fixtures.