Ahmedabad, February 26 – South Africa captain Aiden Markram credited his bowlers for executing their plans perfectly during the Power-play and making full use of the conditions, leading his side to a commanding nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in a Super 8s clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Reflecting on the early phase with the ball, Markram said, "Yes, I thought we bowled quite well. It seemed like the West Indies were going to take control, and some deliveries were either full or wide, but we managed to restrict them effectively," he said after the match.
"The conditions were a bit tricky, and with the new ball offering some extra bounce, we wanted to bowl at good lengths with a lot of energy. With only two wickets in hand, the ball could travel, but if we could keep taking wickets, we would be in a good position. And yes, we were impressed with our performance in the Power-play," he added.
He also discussed the approach during the innings break after restricting the West Indies to 176/8.
"Yes, I felt that while we were bowling, the conditions were improving. So, it was about how effectively we could use the conditions and take wickets. That was what we were trying to balance while we were out there. However, towards the end, I think, when we bowled full and varied our lengths, it worked really well," he said.
South Africa then chased down 177 in just 16.1 overs, powered by Markram’s unbeaten 82, Quinton de Kock’s 47, and Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 45.
Praising his top-order, Markram said, "Yes, I have been working with Quinny for years, and Rick has really established himself at number three, which has been fantastic to see and a major advantage for us. So, the other batsmen have also played crucial roles, and hopefully, we can continue to perform well and achieve success."
With the Proteas unbeaten in the Super 8s and on the verge of a semifinal berth, Markram remained cautious and said that the team would focus on the next match. "That would be great. Every match in this tournament is challenging, so getting out of the group was quite difficult. The Super 8 group is also tough, so hopefully, we can get through, but if not, we will take on the next team in a couple of days and fight for a semifinal spot," he added.
Markram also looked ahead to the possibility of another outing in Ahmedabad, as the final is scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium if Pakistan does not reach. "Yes, it would be great. The conditions are a bit different, but the boys have played some good cricket there. We will need to adapt and play good cricket, and hopefully, things will work out for us," he concluded.
South Africa will play their last match in the Super 8s against Zimbabwe at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
