Ahmedabad, February 9 Skipper Aiden Markram led from the front with a brilliant half-century as South Africa recorded a comprehensive 57-run victory over Canada in their opening Group D T20 World Cup match here on Monday.
Sent in to bat, Markram smashed 10 fours and a six en route to a 59 off 32 balls. Ryan Rickelton (33), Quinton de Kock (25), Tristan Stubbs (34), and David Miller (39) also made valuable contributions as South Africa posted 213 for 4 after being asked to bat first.
In reply, Canada could only manage 156 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Navneet Dhaliwal (64) being their top scorer.
Canada had a difficult start to their chase, losing skipper Dilpreet Bajwa, who edged a Lungi Ngidi (4/31) delivery to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock in the first over of the innings.
Thereafter, Dhaliwal and Yuvraj Samra added 17 runs in the first two overs before losing two wickets.
Ngidi struck twice in the third over, first removing Samra as he edged to de Kock and then, two balls later, dismissed Kirton, leaving Canada at 26 for 3 after 3 overs.
Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker (33 off 29) then shared 69 runs for the fifth wicket, helping Canada recover.
However, left-arm pacer Marco Jansen (2/30) then took two consecutive wickets in the 18th over, sealing the emphatic victory for South Africa.
But the asking rate proved too high for Canada, who could only manage 156/8.
Earlier, Markram had opened the innings with three boundaries off Dilon Heyliger in the second over. Quinton de Kock (25 off 22 balls) followed Markram, smashing Saad Bin Zafar for two consecutive fours over long-off.
The duo continued in this vein, adding boundaries and sixes. They put on 70 runs for the opening stand in just 6.5 overs.
South Africa lost de Kock to a right-arm pacer Bajwa in the 10th over, who clean bowled him.
Markram then brought up his fifty with a four off Bajwa in the 10th over.
Rickelton was also in good form, smashing three fours and a six during his 21-ball knock.
Markram's innings was finally cut short by left-arm spinner Ansh Patel, who caught him at long-on off Heyliger.
Soon after, Rickelton was dismissed, handing a catch to Harsh Thaker at the rope off Patel's bowling.
Dewald Brevis also failed to contribute, being caught at mid-off by Nicholas Kirton in the same over, dealing a double blow to South Africa.
Towards the end, Miller and Stubbs provided the acceleration, helping South Africa to a big total with an unbeaten 75-run fifth-wicket partnership off just 37 balls.
Miller was in excellent form, hitting sixes at will.
Left-arm spinner Ansh Patel was the pick of the bowlers for Canada with figures of 3/31.