Captain Aiden Markram’s masterful innings steered South Africa to a towering 213/4, handing Canada a daunting 214-run target in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match at Narendra Modi Stadium. Both sides entered the contest hungry for a winning start, but South Africa’s depth shone through.
Opting to bowl after winning the toss, Canada saw Quinton de Kock and Markram blaze to 70/0 in 6.5 overs. De Kock’s 25 (2 fours) off 22 ended tamely, but Rickelton’s aggressive 33 (3 fours, 1 six) off 21 balls alongside Markram’s 59 (10 fours, 1 six) off 32 pushed the score to 126/2.
A brief wobble saw South Africa at 138/4, but David Miller and Tristan Stubbs turned the game with a brutal 75* partnership off 37 balls. Miller smashed 39* off 23 (1 four, 3 sixes), while Stubbs hammered 34* off 19 (2 fours, 2 sixes), leaving Canada’s bowlers reeling.
Ansh Patel picked 3/31 for Canada, with captain Dilpreet Bajwa grabbing one. This explosive total underscores South Africa’s evolution as T20 contenders, forcing Canada into a high-stakes chase that could define their tournament hopes.