South Africa took a giant leap toward the T20 World Cup semi-finals after a dominant nine-wicket win over West Indies on Thursday.
A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between the captain, Aiden Markram (82 not out), and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of the chase. Ryan Rickelton added an unbeaten 45 and South Africa motored to 177 for one in 16.1 overs and stretched their unbeaten record in the tournament to six games. West Indies reached 176 for eight, having been 83 for seven.
South Africa could top Group One in the Super 8s if they beat Zimbabwe in their last game on Sunday, when West Indies will face India.
Markram set the tone for the chase by smashing seven fours and four sixes in his 82 off 46 balls. De Kock hit four sixes and four fours in his 24-ball 47. Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 off 28 balls. He and Markram shared an unbroken stand of 82 and South Africa won with more than three overs to spare for a fourth time in Ahmedabad.
The lone wicket was taken by the all-rounder Roston Chase, who was drafted into the playing XI in place of spinner Akeal Hosein.
Fast bowlers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder could not bowl West Indies to victory after batting their side to respectability. Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies from an embarrassing 83 for seven with a remarkable 89-run stand in which Shepherd recorded his first T20 international half century.
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 11 balls and were 52 for four. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs.
Kagiso Rabada (two for 22) drew a faint edge from the West Indies captain, Shai Hope, and also took the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer, who top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper De Kock in the third over. Lungi Ngidi (three for 30) took out Brandon King and Chase in the fourth over.
Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th before he was run out in the final over. Shepherd completed his half century with an inside edge off the final ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under par.
