South Africa Crush Canada by 57 Runs as Ngidi’s Fiery Spell Seals Dominant Group D Win

Ahmedabad, Feb 2026 : The runners-up of the 2024 T20 World Cup delivered a commanding all-round performance to register an emphatic 57-run victory over Canada in the ninth Group D encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. South Africa’s triumph was built on a solid and aggressive batting effort at the top of the order, followed by a ruthless bowling display spearheaded by Lungi Ngidi, who ensured the contest never drifted into uncertainty.

Asked to bat first, South Africa laid a strong foundation through an assured opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock. From the very first over, Markram set the tone with fluent strokeplay and confident intent, taking control of the Canadian bowlers. The duo stitched together a valuable 70-run stand, giving South Africa early momentum on a batting-friendly surface. While de Kock played a supporting role, contributing 25 runs off 22 deliveries, Markram was in sublime touch, racing to a well-crafted half-century. His 59 off just 32 balls was marked by clean timing, intelligent placement and calculated aggression, allowing South Africa to surge ahead in the Powerplay.

After the dismissal of Markram, South Africa experienced a relatively quieter phase in the middle overs. Dewald Brevis struggled to find rhythm and managed only six runs, briefly slowing the scoring rate. However, Ryan Rickelton ensured that pressure remained firmly on the Canadian attack. Displaying composure and smart shot selection, Rickelton chipped in with a brisk 33 off 21 balls, rotating the strike effectively while finding the boundary when needed.

The innings took a decisive turn once David Miller walked in. Known for his calm presence under pressure, Miller anchored the final phase with maturity rather than flamboyance. Alongside him, Tristan Stubbs played a crucial supporting role. Instead of resorting to reckless big hitting, the pair focused on calculated strokes and intelligent running between the wickets. Miller remained unbeaten on 39, while Stubbs impressed with a quick 34, ensuring South Africa finished strongly at 213 for 4 in their 20 overs.

Canada’s bowlers struggled to contain the South African batters for most of the innings. The standout performer was Ansh Patel, who delivered a commendable spell, picking up three wickets for 31 runs in his four overs. Dilpreet Bajwa chipped in with one wicket, but overall, Canada found it difficult to stem the flow of runs as South Africa posted a daunting total.

In reply, Canada’s chase suffered an immediate setback as Lungi Ngidi struck with the very first ball of the innings. Dilpreet Bajwa was dismissed for a duck, setting the tone for a punishing spell from the South African pacer. Although Yuvraj Samra attempted a brief counter-attack by striking three boundaries off Ngidi, the bowler had the final say, dismissing him soon after. By the end of the Powerplay, Canada were already in deep trouble, having lost key wickets including Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva, with Ngidi accounting for three of the first four dismissals.

Canada showed some resilience in the middle overs through a fighting partnership between Navneet Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker. The duo added 69 runs for the fifth wicket, temporarily steadying the innings. However, the required run rate continued to climb alarmingly, crossing 17 runs per over by the start of the 14th over. Despite their efforts, Canada never truly threatened to challenge the target.

Ngidi returned for his final over to effectively seal the match, dismissing Thaker for 33 and breaking the backbone of Canada’s resistance. Dhaliwal continued to battle on, reaching a deserved half-century and finishing as Canada’s top scorer with 64 off 49 balls. His dismissal in the final over summed up Canada’s struggles, as they closed their innings on 156 for 8, falling well short of the target.

Ngidi emerged as the standout performer, finishing with superb figures of 4 for 31 in his four overs. He was well supported by Marco Jansen, who picked up two wickets, while Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch claimed one each, completing a comprehensive bowling effort.

The victory strengthened South Africa’s position in Group D and underlined their credentials as strong contenders in the tournament, showcasing a perfect blend of disciplined batting and lethal pace bowling.

Brief scores:
South Africa 213/4 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 59, David Miller 39*; Ansh Patel 3/31, Dilpreet Bajwa 1/40) beat Canada 156/8 in 20 overs (Navneet Dhaliwal 64, Harsh Thaker 33; Lungi Ngidi 4/31, Marco Jansen 2/30) by 57 runs.

Team Maverick.